Sumaira Abdulali, an anti-noise pollution crusader, had to beat a hasty retreat from the Mahim fair after a mob threatened her as she recorded the noise-levels around Mahim Dargah.

The convener of the Awaaz Foundation wrote to Mumbai Police Chief Subodh Jaiswal about the incident and mentioned that a policeman saw her take readings of the police band, following which she was summoned to the police station. The sound soon stopped, she says.

The police band traditionally plays during the annual festivities. When she left the police station, she spotted some devotees playing music and beating drums. "A policeman accompanied me when I left the police station," she says, "A little away, a band was playing music and beating drums. He stopped the noise and immediately, I was surrounded, threatened and verbally attacked by the revellers, which included women."

Abdulali says the sight of her noise-level recording machine incited the crowd, and they blamed her for stopping the celebration. Even as people hurled abuses at her, some individuals video recorded the happenings. The police escorted her to her vehicle and ensured her safe exit. But even as she pulled away, the crowd banged on the windows of the car.

(Activist Sumaira Abdulali checking noise pollution during the sandal procession in Mahim —Hemant Padalkar/DNA)

"While everyone is allowed to witness celebrations, such cases arise when one doesn't follow security guidelines," says Sohail Khandwani, managing trustee of the Pir Makhdum Saheb Charitable Trust that looks after the dargah.

"People must have suspected her intentions. However, this year, we are ensuring that noise levels are considerably lower." However Abdulali recorded noise levels at 99.8db at 4 pm adjacent to the dargah — much above the permissible limit of 55 db in residential areas and 65 db in commercial areas. She has been visited the dargah for a few years, but has never been met with such hostility. Despite repeated attempts, officers from Mahim Police Station remained unavailable for comment.

As per tradition, the Mumbai Police has the honour of offering the first 'chaddar' and sandalwood at the shrine of the 14th century Sufi saint, Makhdoom Ali Mahimi. The city's police department considers him its patron saint.