Cops silence lit fest minutes before end

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 25

The Chandigarh Police silenced the Chandigarh Literature Festival being held at the Lake Club, here, minutes before it was to formally end.

The last poet of the ‘Trilingual Mushaira’ Waseem Barelvi was on stage at around 7:30 am when two policemen came and asked persons managing the audio equipment to turn off the speaker.

At first, it was supposed to be a technical glitch but when organisers realised what had happened, an argument ensued.

While the policemen claimed to be doing their job, the organisers said they were within the permissible limits. Sumita Mishra, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, Government of Haryana, argued that they were permitted to use speakers if they maintained sound level below 40 decibels. However, the two policemen said they received no such intimation and could not allow it, as per orders.

The drama continued for almost 20 minutes and the audience was asked to come close to the stage so that the artiste could complete his act. The sound system was not used for the rest of the act, thus the fest ended on a sour note. On the other hand, police personnel of the Sector 3 police station have denied any such development.

20-minute drama

The drama continued for almost 20 minutes and the audience was asked to come close to the stage so that the artiste concerned could complete his act. The sound system was not used for the rest of the act and thus, the fest ended on a sour note. On the other hand, police personnel of the Sector 3 police station have denied any such development.