The locals in the Kashipur area are against the Sijimali bauxite mine project ever since the state government handed it over to a private company.
A violent clash broke out between police and tribal villagers in Odisha’s Rayagada district on Tuesday over the construction of a road to the Sijimali bauxite reserve. More than 60 people, including nearly 40 police personnel, were injured.
The tribals have been opposing the bauxite project for the past few years and were staging a dharna against the construction of a three-kilometre road at Sagabari village, which they believe will pave the way to the bauxite mine.
According to officials, the clash broke out when police and district administration officials tried to disperse the protesting villagers from the site early on Tuesday morning to allow road construction. According to the police, villagers allegedly attacked personnel with stones, swords, axes and other sharp weapons, leaving at least six senior officers injured. “We cannot sacrifice our land for bauxite mining,” said a protester.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Rayagada Superintendent of Police Swathy S Kumar said the police maintained utmost restraint, but the villagers continued attacking personnel, who had to fire teargas to bring the situation under control.
The injured police personnel were rushed to the Rayagada district headquarters hospital for treatment. Some who sustained severe injuries were sent to Visakhapatnam.
Officials said the administration has already imposed prohibitory orders to prevent any further protests.
On Monday, Rayagada district collector Ashutosh Kulkarni and senior officials had visited the protest site and urged tribal villagers to vacate the area.
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At least six platoons of police have now been deployed to maintain law and order in the area. Senior police officers, including the SP, are at the spot to take stock of the situation.
In February 2023, Vedanta Limited was declared as the preferred bidder for the Sijimali bauxite mines, located in the Kashipur area.
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