Several villagers and police personnel were injured on Tuesday in a clash in Odisha’s Rayagada district amid protests against a road to a bauxite mine. Local residents oppose the project at Sijimali, fearing impacts on water sources and livelihoods. Officials said the situation is now under control.
Several villagers and police personnel were injured on Tuesday in Odisha’s Rayagada district during a clash over protests against a road to the Sijimali bauxite mine. Tension has prevailed since attempts to build the road began, with tribal communities opposing mining that they say would deplete water sources and harm livelihoods.
A police team went to Kutamal village around 5 a.m. to execute a non-bailable warrant, Rayagada Superintendent of Police Swathy S. Kumar said. “Suddenly, we came under attack from villagers. As many as 58 personnel, including a Sub-Divisional Officer, were injured. Six personnel were shifted to Visakhapatnam as their condition deteriorated,” she stated. Police resorted to lathi charge and tear gas after villagers pelted stones, and the situation is now under control.
Activists claimed eight villagers sustained serious injuries from police beatings. Prafulla Samantra alleged, “Vedanta allegedly secured forest clearance through fraudulent means. Records indicate that a government official was present at all eight gram sabhas simultaneously on a single day.” He questioned pressure on the state government to push the project.
The Sijimali bauxite block, spread over Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, holds an estimated 311 million tonnes of bauxite. Vedanta Limited, the preferred bidder, has proposed extracting 9 million tonnes per annum.
Samantra added that 23 people, including a pregnant woman, are in jail, with police picking up villagers without reason since 2023. Several activists had been barred from entering Rayagada district earlier.
