82 fake sadhus arrested in Uttarakhand under 'Operation Kalanemi' during Char Dham & Kanwar Yatra

Time of India

a day ago

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Police in Dehradun arrested 34 more individuals posing as saints and sadhus on Sunday as part of ' Operation Kalanemi ', a crackdown launched by the Uttarakhand government to act against those allegedly exploiting religious faith for personal gain, according to a report by PTI. With these latest arrests, a total of 82 such individuals have been detained in the last three days, officials told PTI.Among those apprehended during the operation is a Bangladeshi national, Rukn Rakam alias Shah Alam, who was arrested from the Sahaspur area on Friday.The operation, initiated on Thursday on the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami , aims to identify and prosecute impostors misusing religion to deceive people. Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh confirmed that multiple police teams had been deployed to act on specific inputs regarding such fraudulent activities as reported by PTI."Action is being taken at locations where inputs are received about such impostors playing with people's sentiments," Singh said. He added that of the 34 individuals arrested on Sunday, 23 were from other states. Legal proceedings have been initiated under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).The drive comes at a time when religious activity in Uttarakhand is high due to the ongoing Char Dham Yatra and Kanwar Yatra . Police officials noted that such periods often see a rise in individuals disguising themselves as holy men to exploit devotees.SSP Ajay Singh said the operation would continue through the pilgrimage season to ensure public safety and protect the integrity of religious practices.Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, while launching the campaign, likened the fake saints to the demon Kalanemi from Hindu mythology, who misled people by appearing as a saint. 'There are many such 'Kalanemis' in today's society who are committing crimes in the name of religion,' the Chief Minister said.The campaign has received widespread support from Hindu religious bodies. Ravindra Puri, President of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad , called for strict punishment against those preying on devotees. 'Fake saints ask for money from and cheat Kanwariyas and abuse those who refuse to give money,' he said, expressing full support for the Chief Minister's initiative.The Akhand Parshuram Akhada also endorsed the operation, urging the government to verify the identity of such individuals. 'There are some fake seers who bring disgrace to our respected saints. The Aadhaar card of such impostors should be checked,' its president said.State BJP President Mahendra Bhatt echoed the need for strong enforcement, saying that those attempting to disrupt social harmony should face consequences. 'Some criminal elements try to ruin the social environment... They will be subjected to strict action,' he told ANI.The Uttarakhand government has stated that the campaign will continue to identify and act against those misusing religion, particularly during the ongoing religious pilgrimages in the state.(With inputs from ANI)