‘Noise should not spill beyond premises’: Bijnor police arrest mosque muezzin
Noise Should Not Spill Beyond Mosque Premises: Bijnor Police Arrest Muezzin
Bharatmorning.com – Police in Bijnor have arrested a 23-year-old mosque muezzin in Najibabad, alleging that amplified sound from the call to prayer exceeded permitted limits. Officials said noise should not spill beyond the premises when loudspeaker permission has not been granted.
Mohammad Faizan, a resident of Mohalla Maqbara, was detained on Saturday after police visited Najibuddoula Mosque near Government Inter College in Najibabad. Police alleged that a loudspeaker was being used at a high volume during the azaan.
Faizan was produced before a sub-divisional magistrate’s court and sent to judicial custody for 14 days. A loudspeaker, amplifier and microphone were also seized from the site, police said.
Police allege loudspeaker was used without permission
Additional superintendent of police (city) Krishna Gopal Singh said the mosque management did not have permission to operate the loudspeaker. He said sound-amplification equipment must not cause noise outside the property in such circumstances.
“The mosque management had no permission to use a loudspeaker. In such a situation, the noise of sound-amplification equipment should not come out of the premises,” Singh said.
According to police, the case was registered at Najibabad police station after sub-inspector Saurabh Singh filed a report. Singh and constable Rohit were on patrol on Saturday, checking for law-and-order concerns and suspicious people and vehicles.
Police said the officers reached the area near GIC at about 12:45 pm and heard amplified sound from the mosque. During the inspection, they found Faizan reciting the azaan and alleged that the volume exceeded prescribed standards, causing noise pollution and inconvenience to passers-by.
Part of Bijnor’s loudspeaker enforcement drive
The arrest came during a district-wide effort to monitor loudspeakers at religious establishments. In September, Bijnor police said more than 4,500 loudspeakers had been removed from religious sites as part of the exercise.
Authorities say the purpose of the rules is to reduce avoidable disturbance in nearby neighbourhoods. In this case, police have focused on the alleged lack of approval for amplified sound and the claim that the sound travelled beyond the mosque property.
The azaan is the Islamic call to prayer and is observed five times a day by Muslims. Questions around its amplification have often centred on balancing religious practice with compliance with noise-control requirements. Police maintain that noise should not spill beyond a site’s premises where equipment is used without the required permission.
Call for an impartial and sensitive response
Mohammad Khurshid Mansoori, chairman of Sahaspur Nagar Panchayat, urged the district administration to examine the matter fairly and ensure Faizan can access legal information and assistance.
“The azaan is an important part of the religious tradition of the Muslim community. Matters involving religious activities should be handled sensitively, through mutual dialogue and in accordance with the law,” Mansoori said.
He called for discussions between officials, mosque committees and representatives of religious communities so that expectations about permissions, loudspeaker use and sound limits are clearly understood. He said such communication could prevent similar disputes while protecting social harmony.
FAQ: Loudspeaker rules in Bijnor religious places
Why was the mosque muezzin arrested in Najibabad?
Police alleged that a loudspeaker was used without permission and at a volume beyond prescribed limits during the azaan. The allegations will be addressed through the legal process.
What equipment did police seize?
Police said they seized a loudspeaker, amplifier and microphone from the mosque site.
What should religious institutions do before using loudspeakers?
Religious institutions should seek clarity from the relevant local authorities about required permissions and applicable sound restrictions. The central principle cited by police is that noise should not spill beyond the premises.