Imphal: Manipur Police detained 23 youths in a renewed campaign to curb the illegal installation of modified silencers on motorbikes, which cause sound pollution and discomfort to other road users, especially children, elderly citizens and patients.
The detentions and seizures were carried out in different areas of Churachandpur district headquarters over the past 48 hours, the Manipur Police morning bulletin reported on Thursday.
Traffic police in Churachandpur used a bulldozer to publicly crush and destroy the modified silencers as part of an intensified drive to enforce rules against excessive noise that violates the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) and affects public health.
Police said they removed modified silencers fitted to generate high-decibel noise while riding on public roads. The vehicles were released only after the owners installed the recommended silencers. The erring bikers violated Rule 120 of the CMVR, which limits vehicle sound levels (for example, 80 dB for two-wheelers).
The detained individuals were released on personal recognisance bonds after their guardians were summoned to the district police station and undertook not to repeat such activities. Authorities warned that similar drives would continue and violators would face penalties, including hefty fines, in the future.