West Bengal police accused of removing mosque loudspeakers

Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Nawsad Siddiqui wrote to West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar alleging that police in several districts were removing public address loudspeakers from mosques or pressuring mosque committees to do so without following legal procedures. Siddiqui said the actions violated Articles 14, 19, 21 and 25‑28 of the Constitution and could harm communal harmony. He requested clarification on any orders, a copy of such directives, disciplinary action against officers who abused authority, and a clear standard operating procedure.

The state government had already directed mosques to lower loudspeaker volume in line with the West Bengal Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, but Siddiqui said the police approach was creating fear, anxiety and confusion among worshippers.