The Uttarakhand Police have questioned nearly 1,250 suspects so far as part of their verification drive under Operation Kalanemi, aimed at nabbing fake babas and fraudulent religious leaders, a senior cop said.
Inspector General Nilesh Anand Bharne said, "The Uttarakhand Police is conducting a continuous verification drive to interrogate the suspects. The police have questioned 1,250 suspects."
The operation, initiated under direct orders from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, aims to safeguard the religious and cultural sanctity of the state, which sees a high influx of devotees, especially during Kanwar Yatra season. The CM has made it clear: there’s no room for imposters who misuse religion for personal gain.
"To maintain the religious and cultural sanctity in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has instructed that the police should run the Operation Kalanemi," IG Bharne added.
Police have been instructed to keep a close watch on miscreants posing as Kanwariyas. "Along with this, the suspects should be identified, and all the SPs and SSPs have been directed to identify such suspects who mislead the people in the guise of Kanwariyas. These anti-social elements cannot pose a threat, and no one can disturb such communal harmony," he stated.
In a major action on Sunday, 34 fake babas were arrested from various parts of Dehradun. These individuals were dressed as saints and sages but were found indulging in deceitful and exploitative behavior.
SSP Ajay Singh said the arrested individuals were dressed as saints and sages but were found indulging in deceitful and exploitative behavior.
He said, "Under Operation Kalanemi, today, while taking action in various police station areas, police have arrested 34 fake babas roaming around in the guise of saints and sages, against whom legal action is being taken. Among the arrested fake babas, 23 are residents of other states."
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