Pune: The Pune city and Pimpri-Chinchwad police have filed 132 FIRs against Dahi Handi mandals for exceeding permissible decibel levels on loudspeakers during celebrations this weekend.
He said, “Police stations have registered the maximum number of cases (55 cases) from old city areas, followed by areas along the Pune-Solapur Highway and Hadapsar-Saswad Highway (27 cases). A total of 24 cases were registered by police stations along the Satara road. In Pimpri Chinchwad, action was taken against 16 mandals and sound-system operators for playing music beyond permissible limits during Dahi Handi celebrations on Sept 5. A mandap decorator and a sound-system supplier were arrested on Sunday in connection with the death of a 45-year-old woman on Sept 4 night.
Because the woman’s family was unwilling to file a complaint, initially, an accidental death report was registered.
Deputy commissioner of police (Special Branch) Prashant Amrutkar said, “We have seized four plasma and pressure-mid sound system units, besides six other sound systems used by mandals. We have banned the use of plasma speakers and pressure-mids. Yet, some mandals used them. Police had strictly ordered mandals to use four top speakers and four bass systems. All erring mandals with cases filed against used more speakers. Police have seized music systems, loudspeakers, amplifiers and mixers. The Bavdhan police took action against three mandals in Mhalunge, Lavale and Bhugaon. Nigdi police acted against four, while Pimpri, Sant Tukaramnagar, Dapodi, Hinjewadi, Bhosari, Dighi, Kalewadi, Chakan South and Wakad police took action against one Dahi Handi mandal each. She died in Old Sangvi after iron racks used to install lights and speakers fell on her following Dahi Handi celebrations. The Sangvi police also registered a case against the president of the Dahi Handi mandal.