In Dehradun, police stopped Hindu Raksha Dal workers who were heading toward Jama Masjid in Dhamawala to recite the Hanuman Chalisa in protest against loudspeaker noise. The group was demanding a reduction in sound levels at religious sites, especially mosques. After being blocked by police at Dispensary Road, the workers sat down on the spot and recited the Hanuman Chalisa.
Hindu Raksha Dal has been voicing concerns over noise pollution from religious loudspeakers for some time. The group claims that mosques are using loudspeakers beyond permissible decibel limits. The protest was meant to highlight this issue, but police set up barricades and stopped the march midway.
Lalit Sharma, the state president of Hindu Raksha Dal, criticized the action, saying, “We wanted to raise our demand peacefully, but police stopped us. Loudspeakers in mosques exceed legal limits, yet the administration ignores it. Stopping a peaceful religious act connected to our faith is not right.”
Police engaged with the protestors and assured them that sound levels would be checked. The protest ended peacefully after the assurance was given.
