167 Fake Saints Arrested in Uttarakhand under ‘Operation Kalanemi’
In a significant crackdown on fraudulent activities, the Uttarakhand police have identified and arrested 167 ‘dhongi baba’ (fake saints) in Haridwar under ‘Operation Kalanemi’, a special drive initiated by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to curb the menace of impersonating saints and cheating the public. As many as 1500 saints have been verified in Haridwar under this operation, which aims to restore the sanctity of the spiritual hub and protect the reputation of Hinduism.
The operation, which was launched in August 2022, has been a major success, with the police verifying the identities of over 1500 saints in Haridwar. Of these, 167 individuals have been found to be fake, with many of them having no spiritual or religious background. These individuals have been impersonating saints and using their position to cheat unsuspecting devotees, allegedly harming the image of Sanatana Dharma.
According to reports, these fake saints would typically set up ashrams or temples in Haridwar, and then use their perceived spiritual authority to extract money from devotees, often under false pretenses. They would also use their position to spread false information and propagate superstitions, further damaging the reputation of Hinduism.
The Uttarakhand police have been working closely with the Haridwar district administration and local religious organizations to identify and verify the identities of saints in the area. The operation has been led by Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Haridwar, Sanjay Gunjyal, who has been instrumental in cracking down on the fake saints.
“We have been working tirelessly to identify and verify the identities of saints in Haridwar. Our aim is to ensure that only genuine saints are allowed to operate in the area, and that the public is protected from fraudulent activities,” said ASP Gunjyal.
The police have taken a firm stance against the fake saints, with many of them being arrested and booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The arrested individuals are facing charges of cheating, fraud, and impersonation, among others.
The operation has been widely welcomed by the people of Haridwar, who have long been concerned about the activities of fake saints in the area. Many devotees have expressed relief that the police are taking action to curb the menace, and that the reputation of Hinduism is being protected.
“This is a welcome move by the police. We have been complaining about these fake saints for a long time, and it’s good to see that the authorities are taking action,” said Raj Kumar, a local resident of Haridwar.
The operation has also received praise from religious organizations in the area, who have hailed it as a major success. “We are happy to see that the police are taking a firm stance against fake saints. This will help to restore the sanctity of our spiritual hub and protect the reputation of Hinduism,” said Swami Sivananda Saraswati, a prominent spiritual leader in Haridwar.
In conclusion, the successful identification and arrest of 167 fake saints in Haridwar under ‘Operation Kalanemi’ is a major achievement for the Uttarakhand police. The operation has sent a strong message that the authorities will not tolerate fraudulent activities, and that the reputation of Hinduism will be protected at all costs. The people of Haridwar can now breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that the police are working to ensure that only genuine saints are allowed to operate in the area.
