UP: Days After Crackdown On Halal Products, Yogi Govt Now Removes Illegal Loudspeakers From Religious Places

The Uttar Pradesh police have removed at least 3,238 loudspeakers from various religious establishments as part of a comprehensive statewide initiative since 23 November.

This action is in response to the Allahabad high court's directive concerning noise pollution caused by public address systems.

The police have directed the reduction of sound levels from an additional 7,288 loudspeakers that, despite being installed with proper authorisation, exceeded the allowed decibel limits.

Legal actions were taken in Agra commissionerate and Pratapgarh with one FIR filed in each, and 21 individuals were fined in Gautam Buddha Nagar for failing to decrease the decibel levels.

During the campaign that commenced on 23 November and is set to continue until 22 December, two FIRs have also been registered.

During the past four days, inspections were carried out at more than 61,399 places of worship.

Prashant Kumar, the Special Director General of Law and Order, has instructed police officers to make visits to religious sites from 5 pm to 7 pm, continuing until 22 December.

The police report indicates that the most loudspeakers were taken down in the Gorakhpur zone, with a total of 698. In contrast, the sound level of the most loudspeakers was reduced in Bareilly, amounting to 1,975. Among the police commissionerates, Lucknow saw the highest number of loudspeaker removals, with a count of 538.

On district level, the highest number of loudspeakers were taken down in Ambedkarnagar district (283), with Bahraich district following closely behind with 195 removals.

"We have issued notices to over a hundred places of religious importance where the caretakers did not follow the norms despite repeated requests by the police," the SDG (law and order) said.

The officer said that no individual or community would be harassed on the pretext of removing or lowering the sound of loudspeakers.

"We are maintaining a daily compliance report of the action being taken," he said. "Action was initiated after complaints of noise pollution were received. We are covering all those places where the compliance has not been done in the past," Kumar said, Times of India reported.

This action follows the Uttar Pradesh government's recent crackdown on halal-certified food products. The government earlier last week issued a 15-day ultimatum to outlet chains, retailers, and department stores to remove such items from their shelves.

Additionally, 92 state-based manufacturers, previously receiving halal certification from non-certified organisations, have been directed to either recall their products within Uttar Pradesh or repackage them.

On 18 November, the state imposed a ban on the production, storage, distribution, and sale of halal-certified food products.

Subsequently, approximately 500 establishments across various districts and 97 locations in the state were investigated to identify halal-certified products, leading to the seizure of around 2,500 kg of such products.

The government has escalated its response by transferring the case against four firms, accused of irregularities in halal certification, to the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh police.

The FIR (First Information Report) includes charges under Sections 120B, 384, 420, 467, 468, 471, 153A, and 298 of the Indian Penal Code.

The complaint, filed by a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) office-bearer, alleges that certain companies falsely certified products as halal to boost sales among a specific community for monetary gain, constituting forgery and cheating.