Pune: The deafening roar of motorcycles fitted with illegally modified silencers has become a recurring late night nuisance for residents of Wanowrie, NIBM Road and Mohammedwadi.While the Kondhwa police recently booked several riders and confiscated bikes, locals said the relief was short-lived. The blaring, firecracker-like sounds returned the very next night, prompting a call for sustained enforcement rather than one-off drives. Residents said consistent night patrolling is the only way to deter repeat offenders who terrorise residential zones with dangerously loud exhausts.On Monday, the Pune police launched a drive against the menace. Joint police commissioner Sanjay Darade said 123 motorcycles fitted with modified silencers were seized across the city in a single day.The drive covered several areas, including Khadki, Wanowrie, Viman Nagar, Kalepadal, Wagholi, Dattawadi, Nanded City, Shivajinagar, and Yerawada. Darade said the police would now broaden their target. “We will not stop at impounding motorcycles. We will also take strict action against shopkeepers and garage owners selling and installing these modified ‘fataka’ silencers and multi-tone horns,” Darade warned.In a specific operation following viral social media videos, the Kalepadal police apprehended 13 individuals aged 18 to 22 and seized 11 motorcycles. Senior inspector Girisha Nimbalkar confirmed that her team also took action against two garage owners responsible for the installations. “These riders were creating terror and disturbing the peace and tranquility of the area,” Nimbalkar said.For many, the issue has shifted from a mere annoyance to a safety concern. “Past midnight, the noise often sounds like gunshots. Everyone wakes up in a state of alarm,” said Sanjay Mukherjee, a resident of NIBM Road. “My parents are heart patients, and every incident leaves them shaken. When residents have tried to confront these riders, they were met with aggression. It is simply not safe for citizens to intervene.”Jyoti Singh, a resident of Salunke Vihar, said sporadic crackdowns offer only a temporary reprieve. “Once the modified silencers are removed, many riders simply install new ones. This cycle has continued for years. We need regular police presence and long-term solutions,” she said.Frustrated by the persistence of nuisance, residents of Pargenagar have taken matters into their own hands. They have organised a volunteer network that patrols the locality and coordinates directly with the police.Sahil Shaikh, treasurer, Pargenagar Kondhwa Residents Association, said the group was formed two years ago to address late-night disturbances. “Our volunteers spend about two hours every evening patrolling the area. Recently, after spotting a rider with a loud exhaust near Tea One Cafe, our teams tracked him and alerted the Kondhwa traffic police. The officers responded promptly, confiscated the motorcycle, and removed the illegal silencer,” Shaikh said, adding that around 20 residents actively participate in the initiative.
