Op Kalnemi: 170 ‘fake babas' held in 3days from U'khand during kanwar yatra
Dehradun SSP, Ajai Singh, said the district police unit has arrested 34 individuals posing as holy men to dupe mainly women and youngsters on pretext of offering religious and astrological solutions to their daily problems.
"Out of those arrested, 23 belong to other states -- nine from UP, two each from Punjab and Bihar, and one each from Odisha and Rajasthan. The remaining ones are from Dehradun and Haridwar. All were held under BNSS section 170 for further questioning," the SSP added.
Dehradun district police unit arrested 25 people on the first day of the op on Friday. It included a Bangladeshi national who was allegedly operating in the city under the garb of a seer. Apart from Dehradun, 66 were held in Udham Singh Nagar and 45 in Haridwar districts on Friday and Saturday.
The statewide operation was launched amidst the kanwar yatra following CM Pushkar Singh Dhami's directive last week.
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The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
A temple, mosque & week-long power cut. Land dispute in Delhi's Jai Hind camp is taking political shape
The crackdown stems from a Delhi district court order issued in May 2024, which directed BSES to remove all illegal electricity connections in the area. The court had observed that BSES had failed to inspect the premises or assess whether power was being illegally diverted. New Delhi: More than 5,000 residents of Jai Hind Camp in Delhi's Vasant Kunj have been without electricity since Tuesday last week after BSES officials, accompanied by the police, removed three power meters, two installed at a temple and the other at a mosque, that were supplying electricity to the entire settlement through questionable sub-meters. 'No effort has been made… to assess whether any electricity is being diverted from the electricity meters in question to any premises other than the premises where it is sanctioned,' the order reviewed by ThePrint noted, adding that BSES 'did not care to conduct any inspection at the premises in question'. The case involves allegations by landowners that the occupants have set up unauthorised jhuggis and obtained electricity and water connections in their own names. 'The connection was taken in the name of a mosque and a temple. They were supplying electricity to the entire camp. That violates the terms and conditions. The connection was not meant for the entire camp. It was meant only for the premises of the temple and mosque,' a senior police official said to ThePrint. ThePrint has also learnt that outstanding electricity dues—approximately Rs 4 lakh for a meter at the mosque and Rs 11 lakh for one of the meters at the temple—were a factor in the disconnection. A member of the temple committee said to ThePrint that the main electricity meter had been installed in the temple, but it was meant to serve the entire camp, adding that people paid their share based on sub-meter readings. 'When electricity couldn't be provided across the whole area, it was divided between two main meters and distributed accordingly,' the member said. Another person aware of the matter and who lives in the area asked if electricity was meant just for the temple and the mosque, why were three meters with a capacity of 40kW were installed, when the requirements of the premises were much lower? The person asked not to be named. There was no word from BSES on this matter or on whether they were aware if the sub-meters existed in the area. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the move. 'There are over 1.5 crore migrant workers in Bengal who live with dignity. But the same cannot be said for BJP-ruled states, where Bengalis are being treated as infiltrators in their own country. Speaking Bengali does not make one a Bangladeshi. These individuals are as much citizens of India as anyone else, regardless of what language they speak.' ThePrint reached BJP MP and party spokesperson Praveen Khandelwal via calls and text. This report will be updated if and when a response is received. The matter of the disputed land was set for hearing on 18 July, 2025, which, according to sources, was one of the reasons why the electricity was cut now despite the order being more than a year old. Explaining the sequence of events, the police official added: 'BSES had sent us a letter. They had tried to disconnect it earlier too. This time, they requested a police force for assistance. We provided it so they could carry out their duties safely.' Residents said that around 3 to 4 months ago, nearly 20 BSES officials had come to disconnect the electricity, but they did not let them do so and requested them to leave. Also read: After yrs of recurring floods in Northeast, Brahmaputra Board plans digital tracking of weak embankments Disputed land The land in question is in Masoodpur Village, Vasant Kunj. The landowners, in their suit, say their names have been recorded in official government revenue records (Khatoni) from 1984-85 until 2014, and that the land was traditionally used for cultivation by them and other co-owners. In 1982, Masoodpur was declared an urban village under the Delhi Municipal Act. Although much of the village land was acquired by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in 1980, this particular parcel was left out of the acquisition process. The ownership dispute began in 2004, when the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) transferred the land to the Gaon Sabha, citing non-agricultural use—a decision the landowners challenged in court. In 2015, the landowners discovered three electricity meters functioning within the settlement, one at a mosque and two at a temple, and filed a suit. The court found these connections to be unauthorised and used to distribute electricity across the camp through sub-meters. Electricity bills running into lakhs—Rs 3.48 lakh for the mosque, and Rs 6.52 lakh and Rs 11 lakh for the two at the temple—within a short span, were cited as evidence of large-scale, unregulated use, which the court acknowledged. The court noted the absence of any documentation proving that either religious structure existed before the installation of these meters in 2014. 'It is unlikely that a temple would consume electricity worth over Rs 3 lakh a month,' the court observed in a 2024 order. It stopped short of ordering demolitions and did, at the time, exempt three long-settled families from eviction, granting them relief until the next hearing. At the same time, the court clarified that even though unauthorised occupants may be entitled to certain essential services, that does not include illegal or unregulated electricity use. 'Kids can't sleep' As one enters the narrow lane leading to Jai Hind Camp, home to migrants primarily from West Bengal, followed by Assam, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, proper roads are nowhere in sight. The path is dotted with rainwater puddles, flanked by heaps of garbage and discarded rags. A stagnant pool has formed at the camp's entrance after recent rains, becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes and waterborne diseases. Most residents here work as domestic helpers, ragpickers, cab drivers, or delivery partners, barely making ends meet. Now, after more than a week without electricity, their already difficult lives have become even harder. 'We've been suffering since then. There are elderly people here, some are unwell, and some women are pregnant. It's been days of living like this, it feels like we're in hell,' said Nabi Hussain, a resident of Jai Hind Camp since 2001. His family is one of three exempted from eviction. One resident, a domestic worker from West Bengal, broke down while speaking to ThePrint. She has two children, a 14-year-old and an 8-year-old, and said life has become unbearable since the power was cut. 'There are so many mosquitoes because of the rains, and it's so hot that my children can't sleep at night,' she said. As a result, neither of them has been going to school. She leaves for work by 6 am every day. 'If I try to wake up my child that early, he begs to sleep a little longer because he hasn't rested. If I don't go to work on time, I get scolded. If I stay back to help them, I risk losing my job,' she explained, torn between earning a living and caring for her children. 'We are in deep trouble. I can't even explain how difficult it is,' she added. 'We're not asking for much, just give us our electricity back. That's all we want, so our children can go to school and we can go to work in peace.' An 8-year-old boy playing near the waterlogged ground said he hadn't been to school since the power outage began. With no electricity, his family's phone couldn't be charged, and he has been unable to complete his assignments. 'Our teacher sends homework on WhatsApp, but the phone is dead,' he said simply, before running off to join his friends. The documentation drive Residents, however, allege that the power disconnection is part of a broader pattern of discrimination. They claim they're being unfairly targeted for being Bengali and suspected of being Bangladeshi nationals—despite having submitted valid identity documents verified in their hometowns. Delhi police had launched a drive following a directive by the Lieutenant Governor's Secretariat to the Delhi Chief Secretary and Police Commissioner on 10 December last year to identify and take action against 'illegal immigrants from Bangladesh' residing in Delhi. 'In the last 6 to 7 months, we have deported 39 undocumented migrants from the Vasant Kunj area alone,' a senior police officer told ThePrint while confirming that none of them had been from the Jai Hind Camp. Multiple verification drives were conducted at the Jai Hind camp as well but nobody from there had been identified as an 'Illegal immigrant', the officer added. The officer said similar document verification drives have been carried out in other parts of the South West district—including in Rangpuri Pahari, where settlements like Sapera Camp, Gulabo Camp, Israil Camp, Shankar Camp, and Nala Camp are located. Drives have also taken place in areas such as Ruchi Vihar, and Nangal Dewat. According to information accessed by ThePrint, approximately 150 people identified as 'illegal migrants' have been deported from the South West district through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Delhi. A team of six police officials was also sent to West Bengal for cross-verification. However, according to the police officer, the lack of cooperation from the local police made their task difficult. 'We are Indians,' said Sheikh Javed Ali, a resident of the Camp for the past 19 years and who works as a domestic help in a nearby farmhouse. 'Most of the people here are Bengalis from West Bengal, not from Bangladesh.' Ali said that despite repeated surveys conducted by police and the other authorities, residents have been doubted as Bangaldeshis. 'They've come here multiple times, even visited our hometowns to verify our identity,' he added. He recalled showing his birth certificate and other documents to prove his Indian citizenship. 'I've submitted everything. I'm not from Bangladesh and I'm ready to follow the law. But if I've already proven my identity, why am I still being harassed?' 'Neither the Congress, AAP, nor BJP has come this time,' said Hussain adding how, during elections, all the parties would show up, walking the same lanes and acting like they were part of the community. 'They promised us electricity connections, government meters in every home, water pipelines, even proper roads. But nothing ever happened.' he told ThePrint. Now, he added, it feels like they don't even recognise the people they once courted. 'If we're asked to leave, where will we go?' he asked. A senior police official, however, denied any link between the power cut and the ongoing drive to identify 'illegal migrants' in Delhi. 'The disconnection has nothing to do with our drive to identify illegal Bangladeshi nationals, which began last year. The power was cut in compliance with a court order,' the official told ThePrint. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Obesity care in India is evolving—no longer just diets & surgery, it's all about multi-specialty approach
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Class 10 boy dies by suicide at private school in Tirunelveli; miscreants torch two vans
TIRUNELVELI: After a Class X student died by suicide at a private school in Veeravanallur in Tirunelveli district on Thursday, family members held a road roko protest demanding action against the school administration on Thursday night. However, things turned tense as in the early hours of Friday, unknown miscreants hurled petrol bombs and set fire to the private school's vehicles. Police security has been tightened in the area. According to the police, S Sabarikannan, 15, of Manaparanallur, was a Class X student at a private matriculation higher secondary school in Veeravanallur in Tirunelveli. Recently, Sabarikannan was allegedly scolded by teachers for lack of discipline and asked to bring his parents to school on July 7. But, reportedly in fear without telling his parents, on July 7, he consumed pesticide which he brought hidden with him when he came to school. As he fainted a little later at school, teachers took him to Cheranmahadevi Government Hospital and informed his pparents You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai However, despite being referred and admitted to a private hospital, Sabarikannan died without responding to treatment on Thursday. The Veeravanallur police registered a case of suspicious death under section 194 BNSS and were investigating. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo The boy's parents, Sankarakumar and Muthulakshmi, and relatives, in anger on Thursday evening held a road roko protest on Tirunelveli-Ambasamudram Main Road, demanding action against the private school teachers and management for abetment of suicide. Though the protesters dispersed after police held talks and assured investigation and action, in the early hours of Friday, unknown miscreants hurled petrol bombs and torched two of the private school's vans. Fire and rescue services department personnel reached the spot and put out the fire. As a precautionary measure, leave was announced for the private school's students on Friday and police security was tightened. The Sabarikannan's body was laid to rest at his native place under police protection. The Veeravanallur police booked several persons, including Sabarikannan's father for holding road roko protest. The private school authorities have also filed a complaint with the police regarding their school vehicles being vandalized.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Gurugram cops harassing workers for speaking Bengali'
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress spokesperson Partha Pratim Ray, who hails from Cooch Behar, said on Thursday that several people from Sitalkuchi, working in Gurugram, were being summoned by local police for speaking in Bengali. Ray said, "For a long time, several people from the Sitalkuchi block of Cooch Behar district have been working as labourers in Gurugram, near Delhi. They are being summoned to the police station on suspicion of being Bangladeshi because they are from Bengal. Police are not accepting their voter and Aadhaar cards, terming them fake. They have been ordered to bring their ration card or old land documents from home. They are all worried. " "I know many of them personally; some are Rajbanshi, while others are indigenous Muslim Nashya Sheikhs. I will approach the authorities with all the information. If necessary, I will speak with the party's higher-ups and go to Gurugram to assist them." You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata
