Latest news with #OperationKaalnemi
India Today
18 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Why Pushkar Dhami ordered ‘Operation Kaalnemi' during Kanwar Yatra
As the Kanwar Yatra, the annual pilgrimage of Shiva devotees, picks momentum, the Uttarakhand government has started a first-of-its-kind 'Operation Kaalnemi' to take action against imposters defrauding people in the name of Sanatan earlier this week on the orders of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the operation mainly targets the plains districts of Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar. In just a few days, the police have detained over 220 'fake' this week, Dhami announced he has given instructions to officers to start Operation Kaalnemi. 'Many cases have come to light in the state wherein anti-social elements are cheating people, especially women, by disguising themselves as saints and sages. This is not only hurting the religious sentiments of people but also harming the image of social harmony and Sanatan tradition. In such a situation, if a person of any religion is found doing such acts, strict action will be taken,' Dhami posted on Kaalnemi draws its name from Kaalnemi, a demon in the Ramayana known for deceit. According to the epic, when Lakshman was wounded in battle, Lord Hanuman was sent to bring the life-restoring Sanjeevani herb. Ravan, desperate to stop him, summoned Kaalnemi to mislead Lord Hanuman. Disguised as a sage, Kaalnemi set up an ashram along Hanuman's path, hoping to trick him. But Lord Hanuman saw through the disguise and killed Kaalnemi before continuing on his mission. 'Just as the demon Kaalnemi tried to mislead people by disguising himself as a saint, similarly, many Kaalnemi are active in society, who are committing crimes by disguising themselves as religious people. Our government is fully committed to protecting public sentiments, the dignity of Sanatan culture and maintaining social harmony. Those who spread hypocrisy in the name of faith will not be spared under any circumstances,' said to data shared by the Uttarakhand police, 52 such imposters have been caught so far in Haridwar. In Udham Singh Nagar, police said, several people were posing as 'Peer Fakir Baba' and preying on the poor and distressed. Police there have detained 66 such Dehradun, police have arrested 111 people over the past four days. 'The police are also keeping a close watch on people of a particular religion who cheat innocent people in the name of exorcism by showing fear of witchcraft, divine wrath, etc. Imposters coming from West Bengal, Bihar and other states are playing with the religious sentiments of the common people. The impostor may belong to any religion. If involved in such activities, action will be taken,' the Dehradun police said in a year, during the Kanwar Yatra, the Uttarakhand police had ordered all eateries and shops to display their names clearly—a move that drew criticism for being seen to identify Muslim-owned establishments. Many believe Operation Kaalnemi resembles that earlier effort in the sense that it too targets a specific concern linked to faith during the the stated aim this time is to act against religious imposters, the pattern of special measures during the Kanwar Yatra suggests a recurring anxiety about those seen as outsiders within the larger religious the number of arrests under Operation Kaalnemi rises, Dhami has warned that 'all those living as impostors should either reveal their true identities or be prepared for strict action'. He has also appealed to the public to help identify suspected to India Today Magazine- Ends
India.com
6 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
What Is Operation Kaalnemi And Why Uttarakhand Is Cracking Down On Sadhus? DNA Explains
In a significant move aimed at ensuring the safety of devotees and upholding the sanctity of the Kanwar Yatra, the Uttarakhand government has launched a new security initiative called Operation Kaalnemi. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami made the announcement, stating that the operation will be active throughout the holy month of Sawan. The operation is designed to identify and take action against imposters and criminals disguising themselves as sadhus (Hindu ascetics) — a trend that has been increasingly observed in recent years. Special police teams in civilian clothes will patrol key areas where large numbers of sadhus set up temporary camps. If any individual is found committing fraud, theft, or any other crime under the guise of a sadhu, they will face strict legal consequences. In today's DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor, of Zee News, analysed the reason behind Uttarakhand's move: Watch Full DNA Episode Here: दिल्ली की बारिश पर 'नेताओं की रिपोर्टिंग'! बिहार में वोटर लिस्ट पर कोर्ट के फैसले का विश्लेषण क्या ट्रंप पर ड्रोन अटैक कराएगा खलीफा? देखिए #DNA LIVE Rahul Sinha के साथ#ZeeLive #ZeeNews #DNAWithRahulSinha @RahulSinhaTV — Zee News (@ZeeNews) July 10, 2025 Over the years, there have been multiple instances in Uttarakhand where individuals dressed as sadhus have cheated or misled devotees, often targeting women by offering false promises of spiritual fulfilment or miraculous blessings. In several cases, locals have caught such imposters, who turned out to be thieves or con artists rather than spiritual seekers. The name 'Operation Kaalnemi' is rooted in Hindu mythology, particularly the Ramayana. Kaalnemi was a demon sent by Ravana to mislead Lord Hanuman while he was on his way to fetch the life-saving Sanjeevani herb. Using his magical powers, Kaalnemi tried to trick Hanuman by disguising himself as a sage, but Hanuman saw through the deception and ultimately killed him. Drawing from this symbolism, the operation aims to "end the deception of modern-day Kaalnemis", just as Hanuman did in the epic. The use of this name underscores the intent: to protect the spiritual integrity of the pilgrimage and uphold the honour of the sadhu tradition by rooting out imposters. What CM Dhami Said? In a post on X, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said pseudo-disguised individuals will not be spared in the state. "In Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, strict instructions have been given to officials to launch Operation Kalanemi against pseudo-disguised individuals who deceive people and toy with their sentiments under the guise of Sanatan Dharma," he said. Dhami further said that several cases have come to light in the state where anti-social elements, disguised as sadhus and saints, have been engaging in deceiving people, especially women. "This not only hurts people's religious sentiments but also damages the image of social harmony and the Sanatan tradition. In such cases, if any person of any religion is found committing such acts, strict action will be ensured against them," said the CM. He further added, "Just as the demon Kalanemi disguised himself as a sadhu to deceive others, today many 'Kalanemis' are active in society, committing crimes under the garb of religious attire. Our government is fully committed to protecting public sentiments, preserving the dignity of Sanatan culture, and maintaining social harmony. Those who spread hypocrisy in the name of faith will not be spared under any circumstances." Strong Support From Sant Community The initiative has received widespread support from the Hindu ascetic community, which believes that such a step is necessary to protect the dignity of genuine saints and spiritual leaders. "Sadhus are a symbol of Sanatan Dharma. Those who misuse this identity for crime and fraud deserve to be punished," one senior sadhu remarked. With millions of devotees expected to participate in the Kanwar Yatra this year, Operation Kaalnemi is seen as a proactive step toward ensuring both spiritual purity and public safety.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Dhami launches ‘Operation Kaalnemi' against ‘fake seers'
Dehradun: Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday announced the launch of 'Operation Kaalnemi', a campaign targeting individuals who exploit people's faith and emotions under the guise of religion. In a message shared on social media, Dhami said, "Several incidents have surfaced in the state where anti-social elements, posing as seers, are deceiving people, particularly women. Such acts not only hurt religious sentiments but also tarnish the image of Sanatan tradition and social harmony. Strict action will be taken against anyone, regardless of their religion, found indulging in such crimes." Drawing a parallel with the mythological demon 'Kaalnemi', who disguised himself as a saint to mislead others, Dhami added, "Today, many such 'Kaalnemis' are active in society, using religion as a mask to commit fraud and other offenses. Our govt is committed to protecting public sentiment, upholding the dignity of Sanatan culture, and preserving social harmony. Hypocrisy in the name of faith will not be tolerated. " The CM further said that Uttarakhand, widely revered as Devbhoomi (land of the gods), is home to devout people who are simple and trusting. "Unfortunately, some anti-social elements are taking advantage of this trust by masquerading as saints. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like นี่อาจเป็นโอกาสทองที่ดีที่สุดในรอบ 5 ปีสำหรับการเทรดทองคำ IC Markets อ่านเพิ่มเติม Undo The police and administration have been instructed to identify such imposters and take swift action under 'Operation Kaalnemi'," he said. V Murugesan, additional director general (law & order), said, "Police will begin the operation soon after receiving official instructions. Our intelligence unit will be activated to identify and legally act against those involved in such deceitful activities."
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Operation Kaalnemi: Uttarakhand CM Dhami cracks down on fake saints; 'identify and arrest them'
Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has launched a crackdown on people impersonating saints to commit fraud and exploit people's faith. Titled Operation Kaalnemi, the initiative aims to expose and take action against those tarnishing the image of Sanatan Dharma. CM Dhami said that people misusing religion for deceit will not be spared. Addressing recent incidents across the state, Dhami said several antisocial elements have been caught cheating the public, particularly women, while posing as saints. He warned that anyone using religion as a cover for manipulation will face strict legal consequences, regardless of their background. Explaining the name of the operation, Dhami drew a parallel to the demon Kaalnemi, who once misled others by disguising himself as a saint. "Today, too, such 'Kaalnemis' exist in society," he said. He stressed that Uttarakhand, revered as Devbhoomi or the Land of Gods, is home to peace-loving and trusting people, and that this very trust is being misused by a few. 'Unfortunately, some antisocial elements are taking advantage of this, disguising themselves as saints to deceive people,' Dhami said. 'The police and administration have been instructed to identify such individuals and take immediate action under Operation Kaalnemi.'
