The Latur police smashed around 200 modified silencers confiscated in the last several days as part of a significant crackdown on individuals who install these devices on their two-wheelers, contributing to noise pollution.
The police have partnered with over a dozen restaurants, bars, and retail stores to provide up to 15% discounts to citizens who assist them in identifying the bikes with modified silencers. Latur police have begun awarding coupons as a reward for each successful tip-off by a civilian.
Superintendent of police Somay Munde said, “During a rally organized by the residents to mark a mega celebration in February, we found that a large number of bikers with modified silencers was creating noise pollution.”
The officer decided to make it a mass movement by urging people help the police identify the two-wheelers with modified silencers. “We assured the citizens that their names and identities will not be disclosed. We then started receiving inputs on bikes equipped with modified silencers,” Munde said.
The traffic police responded by seizing 150 modified silencers and issuing challans to bikers. Following suit, area police stations from around the district began cracking down on such bikers.
To send a deterrent message, the police department filmed and tweeted on its official social media account the smashing of these silencers on Wednesday.
The cost of these silencers is estimated to be more than Rs 5 lakh, according to authorities, and the drive will continue. “We will consider our drive successful only when the district is free of the last bike with a modified silencer,” stated an officer familiar with the operation.