Asha Devi, the woman who recently attempted to pour kerosene, smear black paint, and place a garland of shoes on elderly social worker Deshbandhu Jamla outside the SDM office in Dehra, Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, has broken her silence. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday at Balaji Haveli Hotel, she claimed her outburst stemmed from years of alleged harassment and mental anguish.
Asha Devi detailed that after her divorce in 2011, she moved in with her mother Bimla Devi in Rakkar. During this period, Deshbandhu Jamla frequently visited their home and insisted, ‘Get your daughter married to me.’
She described that when her mother refused, Deshbandhu started holding a grudge against them. Following her marriage to a man named Sunil,
Deshbandhu used caste-based slurs, questioning, “Why did you marry a Dalit?”
Asha Devi claimed, “Deshbandhu still doesn’t let us live in peace. He insists I divorce Sunil and marry him.”
She added that in 2024, her mother Bimla Devi gave her one kanal of land, while her brother received nine kanals. “Deshbandhu objected to this and filed an appeal with the SDM Dehra, even claiming I am not Bimla Devi’s daughter,” said Asha Devi.
Although the land decision was made in her favour, she alleged that Deshbandhu continues to file complaints to harass her. “I acted out of anger because I couldn’t take it anymore,” she admitted.
Demonstration Held In Support Of Deshbandhu Jamla
On the other hand, Monday saw a protest in Dehra in support of social worker Deshbandhu Jamla. Senior citizens, BJP officials, RSS workers, and many locals gathered outside the mini secretariat, submitting a memorandum to the SDM Dehra for the Chief Minister.
The protesters accused the police and administration of bias, demanding a fair investigation and transfer of the concerned officials. They claimed, “No FIR was filed until the matter came out in the media, and the accused woman was treated like a special guest at the police station.”
Prominent figures such as BJP district president Ajay Khatta, general secretary Sushil Kalia, BJP leader Achal Pathania, Pawan Sharma (VHP), Surendra Sood, Ranjit Chauhan, Anjana Dogra, Shimla Devi, Sonika Thakur, and many others were present at the protest. SP Dehra Mayank Chaudhary assured the delegation that the investigation would be fair and no injustice would be done to anyone.
On Friday, during a hearing at the SDM court in Dehra, Asha Devi threw kerosene, blackened the face, and attempted to place a garland of shoes on elderly social worker Deshbandhu Jamla. Police managed the situation on the spot.
Deshbandhu Jamla, a resident of Rakkar, is known for his social work and has previously gone on hunger strikes for public issues.
The case has now taken a new turn, with both sides presenting their views. Police have stated that every aspect of the case is being investigated and further action will be taken only after the truth is revealed.
