Indiranagar residents slam DCP over blare of music

DCP (East) Ajay Hilori's remark expressing ignorance about a Supreme Court order on checking noise pollution in pubs and bars has infuriated the residents of Indiranagar.

Sultan Singh, a resident, set off what later turned out to be a barrage of criticism on the police failure to crack down on pubs playing loud music beyond the deadline. His first tweet, tagged to Hilori, read: "It's past midnight and still loud music of the DJ plus screaming noise continue from TipsyBull pub #2008, 100ft Road, Indiranagar, despite complaining on police helpline. Why are the SC orders on noise pollution not being implemented? (sic)"

Hilori replied to his tweet: "I would like to invite you to my office. Plz come and show me that order. I would really like to go through that order line by line, word by word, "along with you".

Singh was quick to get back: "Sir, Please give us residents a time and we shall be happy to meet you and show you the SC order and also the KSPCB rules (sic)."

Residents wondered how could an officer, who is in charge of the hub of pubs, be unaware of the order.

The Indiranagar 1st Stage Residents' Welfare Association slammed Hilori. "Your reply is unbecoming of your post and of an officer! If this is your attitude, one of shirking responsibility, then God save Bangalore!! Nevertheless, we will be there to educate you on the court orders (sic)."

Dr Vikram Narayana, another resident, commented: "Your office is for the law abiding citizens not for a(n) illegally-run dirty business. The proof is very well known to you, regarding the blatant violations by these establishments. You haven't done anything significant since taking over the east zone. Kindly act."

In a recent order, Bengaluru Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar had made it mandatory for pubs and bars to get police permission to play music and made the deadline sacrosanct. The police have been raiding pubs and bars that play loud music beyond the deadline.

Bar raided over loud music The police raided a bar-cum-restaurant in central Bengaluru's Gandhinagar on Friday for playing loud music. Acting on complaints from residents, a team of the Upparpet police headed by the inspector, Satish Kumar, raided Kajal Bar and Restaurant, located on the second floor of a commercial building. The police seized the music equipment and booked the bar owner, Srinivas, and the landlady, Jyothi, under various sections of the Karnataka Police Act. Four people, including the bar manager and waiters, were taken into custody for interrogation.