Activists petition Governor over arrests

Human rights activists have asked Odisha Governor Braj Mohan Ram to intervene after police arrested people opposing Sijimali bauxite mining in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts.

Police using false charges, activists say

Prafulla Samantara, who sent a petition to the Governor on Monday, October nineteenth, twenty twenty-six, said police are making indiscriminate arrests on false and fabricated criminal charges.

“People have the right to carry out peaceful protests.”

Two activists picked up in Kalahandi

Randall Sequeira and Laxman Naik, associated with resistance to the Vedanta Group's mining project, were picked up from Bhabanipatna in Kalahandi district on October sixteenth. Family members and lawyers were not allowed access.

Tribal leader faces old charges

Tribal leader Lada Sikaka of Niyamgiri is facing several non-bailable charges in old cases in which his name did not figure in the charge-sheets, Samantara said.

Gram Sabhas rejected the mining plan

Although Gram Sabhas rejected the mining proposal in the Niyamgiri hill range and there has been no agitation by tribals, they are being unnecessarily targeted, Samantara said.

Activists call for Governor's intervention

Samantara urged Odisha Governor to review police action and intervene to secure the release of the activists, who he described as victims of police repression.