Malkapur police book 12 DJ owners over loud Durga idol processions, sound hit 120.4 decibels

Police in Malkapur, Buldhana district, have taken action over the playing of DJ systems at deafening volume during processions for the installation of Goddess Durga idols in the Navratri festival. Malkapur city police have registered cases against 12 DJ owners on charges of violating noise pollution rules.

According to police, the action was taken on Sunday. When the sound was measured on the spot with a sound meter, it was recorded at a full 120.4 decibels.

Processions for the installation of Durga idols were taken out at several places in the city, including Hanumannagar, Narkhede Complex, Gadgebaba T Point, SBI Chowk, Tehsil Chowk, Hanuman Chowk, the Hotel Vishal premises, near Suraj Medical, in front of the Titan shop and the Kanhaiya Daily Needs premises.

The police action showed that DJ systems were played in these processions at a volume above the prescribed limit, causing inconvenience to people. Elderly people, small children and patients were feared to be especially affected.

The 12 DJ owners against whom cases have been registered include Akshay Bajirao Totre (resident of Pazhar Ghatmala, Chandwali Bu., Pune district), Shubham Supda Lahane (resident of Sakhli Bu., Buldhana district), a person linked to Ramrajya Malkapurwala Sound, Paresh Vilas Patil (Jalgaon Khurd, Jalgaon district), Gaurav Anil Patil (Sunny Palace, Khamgaon), Shubham Balu Andhare (Adampur, Akola district), Chiraj Prakash Galwade (Panchsheel Nagar, Bhusawal), Anand Janardan Wankhade (Khamgaon) and Abhishek Ravindra Chavan (Mhaswed, Satara district).

All of them have been booked under Sections 223(b), 270 and 293 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with the relevant Maharashtra provisions of the Police Act.

Police said the administration had already instructed that rules be followed to prevent noise pollution. On October 4, a meeting of DJ operators and owners was held at Malkapur city police station and they were given the necessary instructions. In addition, DJ owners who had come from outside the town were served notices on Sunday under Section 168 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 and informed of the legal rules.

Despite this, the rules continued to be violated even though a ban was in force and prior notice had been given. Police therefore went to the spot and checked the sound with a sound meter. When a level of 120.4 decibels was recorded, legal action was taken against the DJ owners concerned.