On July 15, 2025, Uttarakhand Police grabbed more than 300 people pretending to be holy men, called babas, in the Kumaon area. This big plan, called Operation Kalnemi, started on July 10 by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. It’s all about stopping fake babas who trick people with lies about having special powers. Police boss Riddhim Agarwal said these fakers used superstition to cheat people, especially in holy towns like Haridwar and Rishikesh. The police checked IDs, arrested them, and started cases against them.
Wow, 300 fake babas caught? That’s a lot! I’m glad they’re stopping these liars.
What’s Operation Kalnemi?
Operation Kalnemi is named after a bad guy from the Ramayana who dressed as a saint to fool people. CM Dhami said some people today act like this, using religion to scam folks. The police are catching these fakers to keep Uttarakhand, called “Devbhoomi” (God’s Land), safe and holy. They nabbed 66 in Udham Singh Nagar and even a guy from Bangladesh pretending to be a sadhu in Dehradun.
Naming it after a sneaky demon? That’s such a smart way to call out these fakes!
How Police Are Doing It
The police are checking anyone who looks fishy, especially those dressed as sadhus with no ID. They’ve:
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Caught 82 fake babas in Dehradun, including 34 on July 13.
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Checked over 1,250 people across the state.
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Looked at 600 babas in Badrinath, finding two suspicious guys from Bengal.
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Filed police cases and fines for cheating.
Police stations are on high alert, especially with big pilgrimages like Char Dham going on. SSP Ajay Singh said they’re watching out for people tricking women and kids with fake promises.
The police are super busy! It’s great they’re making sure only real holy people are around.
Why Now?
Uttarakhand’s super busy with pilgrims for Char Dham and Kanwar Yatra, with over 38 lakh visitors. Fake babas show up at holy spots like Rishikesh, offering “miracles” like fixing bad luck for money. Some use fake IDs or act like big spiritual leaders. CM Dhami said this hurts Hindu traditions and makes people lose trust. The operation keeps pilgrims safe and protects Uttarakhand’s holy name.
So many visitors! It’s the perfect time to catch these fakes before they trick more people.
Who Likes the Plan?
Lots of people support Operation Kalnemi:
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BJP’s Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said it stops religious scams.
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BJP’s Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said it catches fake miracle-makers.
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Hindu groups cheered for protecting faith.
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Even Shiv Sena’s Anand Dubey liked it but said Dhami should check his own party for bad people too.
An X post from @Indian_Analyzer said, “No more cheating in the name of faith!” People are super happy about it.
Everyone loves this plan! But that comment about Dhami’s party? That’s a bit cheeky!
What’s Next?
The police will keep looking for fake babas, especially in holy places like Haridwar and Badrinath. They’re checking IDs to make sure only real spiritual leaders are around. X users are calling CM Dhami a “faith protector,” and some want other states to do this too. The government says this isn’t just about catching bad guys—it’s about keeping Uttarakhand’s holy vibe safe and helping people trust real saints.
People on X are so excited! I hope they keep catching fakes to make pilgrims feel safe.
Why This Is Important
Operation Kalnemi is a big deal because it stops fake babas from tricking people with lies for money. Over 200 have been caught across Uttarakhand, including 111 in Dehradun. It keeps “Devbhoomi” special during big pilgrimages and protects Hindu traditions. An X post from @postcard_news said 118 fakers were nabbed, and people love the cleanup. This makes pilgrims feel safer and keeps Uttarakhand’s holy places real and trustworthy.
This is such a cool move! Protecting people’s faith is super important. What do you think about nabbing these fake babas? Tell me!