BHUBANESWAR: A violent clash ensued between Odisha Police and tribals protesting against the construction of a road in Sijimali bauxite mines in which over 50 people including 33 police personnel were injured.
The Rayagada district administration had recently initiated the construction of a 3 km-long road from Purulang to Sagabari Ghati to facilitate access to the site of the mines which is allotted to aluminium giant Vedanta Ltd.
The move triggered strong opposition from local residents, mainly tribals, who allege that the project threatens their land, livelihood and environment.
Sources said that the administration had started the road construction work on Monday after a discussion between the district collector Asutosh Kulkarini and the villagers.
Protest erupted on Tuesday morning when the work started. Protesters blocked the road and raised slogans against the administration.
CPI (ML) Liberation’s Rayagada unit secretary Tripati Gamang alleged that police and district administration cordoned off Kantamal village, disconnected power supply and raised the houses. Tear gas shells were fired in which a cow died. In police action, several men and women were also injured, he added.
The situation escalated and turned violent when agitating villagers allegedly hurled stones and attacked the police using swords, axes and other sharp weapons.
The violence left several senior officers injured, including SDPO Girishankar Sahu, Kashipur IIC Dev Mallick, and Andirakancha IIC, along with more than 30 constables. Of the injured, seven personnel are reported to be in critical condition and have been admitted to the district headquarters hospital in Rayagada.
Some of them have been shifted to Visakhapatnam. Others are undergoing treatment at the Kashipur CHC. In response to the escalating situation, the district administration has imposed Section 163 BNSS in Shagabari village to prevent further violence and maintain public order.
Rayagada collector Asutosh Kulkarni was present in the area to monitor the situation, which remains tense. District authorities and police are closely monitoring the situation as efforts continue to restore normalcy in the area.
DIG Kanwal Vishal Singh visited the Rayagada district headquarters hospital and met the injured police personnel and enquired about their health.
According to sources, villagers, primarily tribals, have long opposed the project, intended to improve access to the proposed Sijimali bauxite mining area, fearing it would destroy their land, forests, and traditional livelihoods in the ecologically sensitive region.