In Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, seventeen individual FIRs have been filed against mosque caretakers and clerics for allegedly breaching the Supreme Court and state government regulations regarding loudspeaker usage, as stated by officials on Tuesday. These cases were initiated on Monday at various police stations during a district-wide initiative aimed at curbing the use of high-volume loudspeakers in places of worship, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Omveer Singh. He emphasized that mosque caretakers must adhere closely to the directives set forth by both the Supreme Court and the state government concerning acceptable sound levels.
The police reported that a case was filed at the Bansdih Road police station against Maulvi Mohammad Shahjahan of the Gothhuli mosque under relevant sections of the Bharartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, following a complaint from Sub-Inspector Mahendra Rawat. The complaint indicated that two large loudspeakers were installed at the mosque and were being operated at high volumes, disturbing nearby residents despite multiple warnings. Additionally, at the Bheempura police station, Sub-Inspector Durgesh Gaur registered a case against Mohammad Salim Ansari, the caretaker of Shodhanpur mosque, under the same sections. It was alleged that three loudspeakers were set up at the mosque, and the azaan and prayers were broadcast at elevated volumes despite local objections.
Furthermore, two FIRs were filed at Ballia’s Kotwali police station against Haider Ali, caretaker of Jamua mosque, and Ghulam Arshad, caretaker of Umarganj mosque. Similar FIRs were also lodged at Nagara, Pakri, and Reoti police stations against other mosque caretakers and clerics for failing to comply with noise regulations, the police reported.