LUCKNOW: More than 6,000 loudspeakers have been removed from religious centres in Uttar Pradesh following a government order to check the use of loudspeakers in places of worship. The volume of 30,000 loudspeakers was reduced to a permissible level. Most of the loudspeakers were removed from Modi's constituency Varanasi.

Authorities took action after UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said at a law and order review meeting with senior officials last week that people were free to practice their religion according to their faith. As of Wednesday afternoon, 6,031 loudspeakers were removed and the volume of 29,674 loudspeakers had been set within the permissible limits, said additional director general of police Prashant Kumar.

1,366 loudspeakers were removed from Varanasi. Unauthorized loudspeakers were removed from Meerut (1,215), Bareilly (1,070) and Kanpur (1,056). The UP Home Ministry had earlier said that guidelines for the use of loudspeakers in temples, churches, gurudwaras, churches and wedding halls should be followed.