U.P. Imam booked for 'creating noise' on mosque loudspeaker: Police

November 5, 2025 by News Desk

Police in Shamli district have registered a case against mosque imam Maulana Rafique Khan for allegedly exceeding permissible decibel limits with a loudspeaker, following repeated complaints from residents of the Hindu-majority village of Ghumthal.

Sub-Inspector Sonu Chaudhary, on routine patrol, detected the violation and filed a complaint after earlier warnings went unheeded. “A team had advised the imam to comply with noise regulations. Since the violation persisted, legal action was initiated,” said Station House Officer Manoj Verma.

Khan was taken into custody, and additional security was deployed in the village as a precaution. He faces charges under Sections 223 (disobedience to public servant’s order) and 293 (continuing nuisance after injunction) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The police action has drawn criticism for not specifying the exact decibel limit breached, raising questions about selective enforcement. Yale University lecturer Sushant Singh commented, “This is rule by law, not rule of law. Rule of law applies equally to all; rule by law targets those you want to punish.”

The incident underscores rising tensions over noise regulations and concerns about their selective application at religious sites.