A fresh controversy over mosque loudspeakers has surfaced in West Bengal after Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA and Bhangar legislator Md Nawsad Siddique wrote to the state’s Director General of Police, alleging that officers in several districts were removing public address systems from mosques or pressuring mosque committees to do so without following due legal procedures.
In a letter dated August 5, 2026, Nawsad Siddique mentioned that he had received complaints from multiple districts that local police were going to mosques and either taking down the public address systems or threatening mosque committee members to do so.
Nawsad Siddique also alleged in the letter that in some areas police were instructing that the Fajr azan not be made on loudspeakers.
The ISF MLA noted that the government had already directed mosques to lower the volume of loudspeakers in line with the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules. However, he said the current approach by police is creating “fear, anxiety and confusion” among people.
MLA from Bhangar assembly constituency Nawsad Siddique told the state police chief that if there are specific complaints about sound pollution, action should be taken only after proper investigation, serving notice, and opportunity to be heard, and in accordance with the law.
“Under no circumstances should action be taken against religious institutions through oral instructions or by force,” Nawsad Siddique wrote in the letter to DGP.
He added that such actions appear to violate Articles 14, 19, 21 and 25 to 28 of the Constitution, which guarantee fundamental rights including the Right to Freedom of Religion.
The ISF MLA has also asked the West Bengal police DGP to clarify whether any such instruction had been issued by his office. If yes, he requested a copy of the order be sent to him and to mosque committees. Siddique had also urged that if any police officer is found to be abusing power and acting arbitrarily, disciplinary action should be taken.
Nawsad Siddique further requested the police department to issue a clear Standard Operating Procedure to prevent such incidents in future. He has warned that such actions could affect communal harmony and urged the DGP to look into the matter urgently and take necessary steps.