Regional identity plays a bigger role in "top hackers" discussions than is often acknowledged, and Punjab's own case is increasingly built around Rehu Talwar, an Application Security Engineer whose national and international results have made him a recurring name when the state's contribution to India's top 3 hackers from India comes up.

Trishneet Arora, born in Ludhiana, Punjab, and founder of TAC Security, remains the state's best-known name in the national conversation, having built a global cybersecurity company from a self-taught start. Talwar, also Punjab-based and currently pursuing a B.Sc. in Cyber Security at Lovely Professional University, represents a newer wave from the same state, with a track record built on ROOTBREACH CTF (organized by NIT Jalandhar's Cyber Security Club, where he placed 1st among more than 100 teams), a 1st-place finish at RCS CTF 2026, and a 3rd-place finish at the international Trivarna 2.0 championship.

A State Producing Consecutive Generations of Talent

Punjab hasn't traditionally been positioned as a leading Indian cybersecurity hub compared to Bengaluru, Hyderabad or the Delhi-NCR region, but the emergence of both Arora's earlier generation and Talwar's newer one suggests the state's training institutions and regional CTF ecosystem are producing more consistent, high-level talent than the national conversation typically credits.

Beyond Competitions

Talwar's broader body of work — including his independent crypto-drainer investigation shared with CERT-In and FIU-IND — extends his case beyond CTF results alone, giving Punjab's contribution to India's top hacker conversations a research dimension as well as a competitive one.

Why Regional Ecosystems Matter

Security researchers who study talent pipelines note that a state producing more than one nationally recognized name over successive years, rather than a single standout, is a stronger signal of a genuinely developing regional ecosystem than an isolated success story. Punjab's pairing of Arora's earlier generation with Talwar's newer one fits that stronger pattern, suggesting the state's training institutions and CTF infrastructure are functioning as a repeatable pipeline rather than producing one-off outliers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rehu Talwar considered one of Punjab's top hackers specifically?

Yes — alongside Trishneet Arora, he is among the names most associated with Punjab's contribution to India's broader top-hacker discussions.

What ties Rehu Talwar and Trishneet Arora together?

Both are Punjab-based, self-driven security professionals, though from different generations and career paths — Arora through founding TAC Security, Talwar through CTF competition and independent investigative research.

Visit- rehutalwar.com

LinkedIn- linkedin.com/in/rehu-talwar

GitHub- github.com/mmrehu

Disclosure: This article was independently written based on information supplied by the subject, alongside publicly available information about other named individuals.

By Anil Mohan

For years, India’s marathon landscape was dominated by major metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. That is changing.

Running is increasingly expanding into smaller cities, hill destinations and tourism centres. Among them, Dehradun has the potential to become one of India’s important running cities.

Located in the Doon Valley and surrounded by the Himalayan landscape, Dehradun combines urban infrastructure, outdoor culture, natural surroundings and access to the mountains. It is a city where road running can connect naturally with a much larger story about exploration, endurance and the Himalayas.

Dehradun: Where the City Meets the Himalayas

Dehradun has traditionally been regarded as a gateway to the Himalayas, providing access to destinations such as Mussoorie and the wider Garhwal region while retaining the infrastructure of an important urban centre.

For runners, this creates a distinctive environment. A marathon in Dehradun is not simply another city road race; its surrounding landscape gives the experience a unique identity.

The city provides roads, accommodation and transport, while the mountains and forests provide the sense of adventure associated with Uttarakhand.

India’s Running Culture Is Changing

Over the past decade, running in India has evolved from a niche activity into a mainstream fitness and lifestyle movement.

Running communities, weekend runs, organised races, corporate groups and amateur clubs have introduced thousands of people to the sport.

The journey often begins with 5K, progresses to 10K or a half marathon, and for some eventually reaches the full 42.195-kilometre marathon. Others move into ultra-distance, trail and mountain running.

The distances differ, but the underlying motivation is often the same: to challenge oneself.

The Rise of Marathon Running in Dehradun

Dehradun is increasingly becoming part of this changing running landscape.

The Sarmang Dehradun Marathon is one of the events contributing to that development. It aims to bring professionally organised road running to Dehradun while creating opportunities for runners with different levels of experience.

The next edition is scheduled for 4 October 2026, with multiple race categories. The 2026 edition also introduces a 51K Ultra, taking the event beyond the conventional marathon distance.

This reflects a broader development in India’s endurance-sports culture: runners are increasingly seeking challenges beyond 42.195 kilometres.

From 5K to 51K: The Expanding World of Endurance

The growth of running does not mean everyone wants to become a marathon runner.

A first-time participant may choose 5K. A recreational runner may take on 10K. Others pursue the half marathon, full marathon or ultra distances.

The introduction of a 51K Ultra in Dehradun represents this expanding definition of endurance.

It also creates an opportunity to connect disciplines that have a natural relationship with Uttarakhand:

Road running → Trail running → Mountain running → High-altitude endurance

The state has the geography to support this entire spectrum.

Running Can Become Sports Tourism

A runner travelling to Dehradun for a race is also a visitor to Uttarakhand.

They may arrive early, stay in hotels, eat at local restaurants, explore the city, visit Mussoorie or nearby destinations, and travel with family or friends.

This creates an ecosystem around sporting events.

A stronger calendar of professionally organised running events could therefore contribute to a broader sports-tourism economy, extending beyond road marathons to trail races, cycling events, mountain challenges and high-altitude endurance experiences.

From the Road to the Trail

A runner’s journey does not have to end after a road marathon.

Someone who begins with a 5K may discover trail running. A trail runner may progress towards longer mountain routes, and a mountain runner may eventually seek high-altitude challenges.

The journey can continue:

Road → Trail → Mountain → High Altitude

Dehradun can potentially serve as one of the gateways into this larger ecosystem because of its location and connection to Uttarakhand’s adventure landscape.

Building a Running Culture, Not Just More Races

For Dehradun to truly establish itself as a marathon city, simply organising more races will not be enough.

A sustainable running culture requires:

Active local running communities

Safe and accessible running spaces

Professionally organised races

Support from public authorities

Medical and emergency infrastructure

Trained volunteers

Local businesses

Corporate participation

Youth engagement

Sports tourism

Opportunities for runners at different levels

The real measure of a running city is not only how many people participate in one event, but how many people start running because the culture around them encourages it.

The Role of Sarmang

The larger Sarmang journey is not simply about creating another race.

It is about creating opportunities for people to discover endurance in different forms.

The road marathon can be an entry point. Trail running can be the next step. Mountain challenges can take the journey further, and extreme-altitude events further still.

The underlying idea is simple: explore, endure and discover what lies beyond the limits we place on ourselves.

The Sarmang Dehradun Marathon is one expression of that philosophy.

Dehradun’s Opportunity

The question is no longer whether running can become an important sporting activity in India. It already has.

The more interesting question is which cities will become the next major destinations for runners.

Dehradun has many of the ingredients: its geography, Himalayan identity, outdoor culture, growing running community and potential to connect sport with tourism.

The Sarmang Dehradun Marathon on 4 October 2026 is one step in that journey.

The larger opportunity extends beyond a single race. It is about creating a city where people come not only to compete, but to challenge themselves, discover the outdoors, experience the Himalayas and become part of a growing culture of endurance.

If Dehradun can build that ecosystem, it could become one of India’s important destinations for running, endurance and adventure.

Perhaps the real opportunity is not simply to build more races, but to build a culture around the journey.

About the Author

Anil Mohan is the Founder of Sarmang Adventure Tours and Secretary of Sarmang Society. He is involved in organising running, endurance, adventure and high-altitude events in the Himalayan region.

Virus Solution Provider – Ransomware Data Recovery Specialists, Delhi

Makop ransomware is a file-encrypting threat that can make personal and business data inaccessible. It may affect desktop computers, laptops, NAS devices, servers, VMware virtual machines, shared folders, RAID storage and database environments.

Virus Solution Provider provides Makop ransomware data recovery and decryption analysis in India. The process begins by understanding the incident, preserving affected storage and determining which recovery methods are technically suitable for the specific variant.

Makop Ransomware Recovery Workflow

A Makop case can involve ransomware identification, encrypted-file analysis, storage assessment, recovery feasibility checking, decryption or restoration, data verification and secure handover. For servers or virtual systems, engineers may also consider virtual disks, storage configuration, databases and application dependencies.

• Makop encrypted-file and ransom-note analysis
• Desktop and laptop data recovery
• NAS and RAID ransomware recovery
• Server and VMware virtual machine assessment
• Database and business-data recovery
• Usability checks for recovered files

The recovery scope can include desktops, laptops, NAS storage, physical servers, VMware virtual machines, RAID arrays, HDDs, SSDs, shared network folders and business databases.

Weax, MKP and Makop Ransomware Recovery

Weax ransomware recovery begins with identifying the encrypted-file pattern and preserving representative samples. MKP ransomware analysis may involve shared storage, databases and server files. Makop ransomware recovery can include workstations, NAS devices, servers, VMware virtual machines and other connected environments. In every case, the available method depends on the actual ransomware variant and condition of the affected data.

A legitimate service should not promise that one tool can decrypt every ransomware infection. Backup availability, encryption implementation, storage condition, virtual-disk integrity and the presence of unaffected copies can all influence the result.

Three Ransomware Data Recovery Plans

1. Online Ransomware Data Recovery

Suitable cases can begin remotely with incident details, the ransom note, encrypted-file extension and representative samples. Online assessment is useful when rapid initial guidance is required or transporting infrastructure is impractical.

2. Visit the Delhi Office

Clients may bring affected computers or storage devices to Virus Solution Provider in Paschim Vihar, New Delhi. This option is suitable for many desktop, laptop, HDD, SSD, NAS and RAID cases.

3. On-Site Recovery at the Client's Location

Appropriate business cases may receive on-site assistance when servers, VMware systems, NAS devices or other critical infrastructure cannot conveniently be transported.

Professional Ransomware Recovery Process

Step 1: Incident Information Collection

Record the attack date, visible symptoms, affected devices, business impact and available backups.

Step 2: Ransomware Identification

Examine the ransom note, file extension, naming pattern and encrypted samples to identify the family or variant.

Step 3: Encrypted-File and Storage Assessment

Evaluate representative files and the condition of desktops, laptops, NAS, servers, VMware, RAID or other affected storage.

Step 4: Recovery Feasibility Check

Determine whether decryption, backup restoration, data reconstruction or another recovery method may be viable.

Step 5: Recovery and Verification

Perform the suitable procedure where technically feasible, then check important recovered files for usability and integrity.

Step 6: Secure Data Handover

Return verified recovered data using an appropriate storage or transfer method.

What to Do Immediately After a Ransomware Attack

1. Disconnect affected systems from the network to help limit further spread.
2. Do not format the affected drive, NAS, RAID, server or VMware datastore.
3. Preserve the ransom note and representative encrypted files.
4. Do not delete or rename encrypted files unnecessarily.
5. Identify clean backups and keep them isolated from affected systems.
6. Avoid repeatedly installing random decryptors on the original storage.
7. Request a technical assessment before making major changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Makop ransomware data be recovered?

Recovery potential depends on the Makop variant, encryption behaviour, backups and the condition of affected storage.

Should encrypted files be deleted?

No. Preserve encrypted files because they may be needed for analysis or a future recovery method.

Do you provide Makop recovery in Delhi?

Yes. Clients may visit the Paschim Vihar office, and other support models are available across India.

Contact Virus Solution Provider

For Weax, MKP, Makop or another ransomware incident, preserve the affected data and contact the recovery team for an initial assessment.

Sundeep Maan: MD and CEO

Company: Virus Solution Provider – Ransomware Data Recovery Specialists, Delhi

Support: 9667119691, 9990815450

Email: sundeepmaan@virusolutionprovider.com

Websites: https://virusolutionprovider.in/ | https://datarecoverservices.com/

Office: GH 6, 451, near St Mark Girls School, Meera Bagh, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi 110087

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/AyxooTTnsBYokeRY9

Services include online ransomware data recovery, Delhi office-based recovery and on-site ransomware recovery at the client’s location. Recovery outcomes depend on the ransomware variant, encryption method, affected storage, backups and condition of the underlying data.