Tehsildar Beaten At Kullu Dussehra Event For Entering With Shoes, Made To Apologise

Last Updated:October 03, 2025, 12:03 IST

Rinku Shah, clerk for deity Bhrigu Rishi, said the Tehsildar entered the camp with shoes on, breaking centuries-old tradition and disrespecting the Dev Samaj

Despite 1,200 police deployed for Dussehra, authorities have not responded to the incident. (News18 Hindi)

A shocking incident marred the first day of Dussehra in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu on Thursday. Tehsildar Hari Singh Yadav, who had visited a deity’s camp, was assaulted by a mob. During the procession, Yadav was chased away, his clothes torn apart, and he was beaten. Despite the severity of the incident, no case has been filed, casting doubts on the law and order situation in Kullu.

The altercation began when a camp for deity Bhrigu Rishi was established alongside another for Chamunda Mata, leading to a dispute over space. Tehsildar Yadav intervened but, in a breach of tradition, approached the deity’s chariot with his shoes on, enraging the accompanying devotees (Hariyan) of the deity.

Their anger escalated, and Yadav was dragged to a temporary camp and beaten. Videos of the incident show Yadav being pulled by the collar and shoved around, with his shirt in disarray. He attempted to make a phone call but was interrupted by the scuffle.

Rinku Shah, a clerk for deity Bhrigu Rishi and deputy head of the Gram Panchayat Ratocha, reported that Yadav had intimidated devotees, threatening that the deity would not be invited to the next Dussehra festival.

Shah pointed out that the Tehsildar had entered the camp with shoes on, disrupting a centuries-old tradition and disrespecting the Dev Samaj. Despite the severity of the incident, Yadav has not filed a police complaint, and the case remains unresolved.

BJP MLA from Banjar, Kullu, Surendra Shourie, criticised the Tehsildar, claiming that in 2023, Yadav had dismantled tents of 18 deities and had been insulting deities and locals for the past two years.

Shourie questioned the Congress government’s decision to post Yadav in Kullu and stated that a privilege motion had been filed against the Tehsildar in the Assembly, with action pending. Shourie added that Yadav was forced to apologise in front of the deity.

Notably, the police have not responded to the incident, despite the presence of over 1,200 police personnel deployed for Dussehra. This raises serious concerns about why no action is being taken against those who assaulted and manhandled an officer.

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