At least 56 police personnel were injured in clashes with anti-mining protesters in Odisha’s Rayagada district on Tuesday, as tensions escalated over a road construction project linked to a proposed bauxite mining site.
According to police, the incident took place in Kashipur block where locals had been demonstrating against the construction of a road by a private company for mining activities in the Sijimali area. The situation turned violent when protesters allegedly began pelting stones at police personnel who were attempting to negotiate with them.
Officials said the protesters also attacked security personnel with swords, axes and other sharp weapons, leaving dozens injured. Among those hurt were Rayagada Sub-Divisional Police Officer Gourishankar Sahu, Kashipur Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) Dev Mallick, and the IIC of Andrakanch police station.
Seven of the injured personnel were shifted to the district hospital after their condition turned critical, while others are being treated at the Kashipur Community Health Centre.
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Senior administrative and police officials, including District Magistrate Ashutosh Kulkarni and Superintendent of Police Swati S Kumar, rushed to the spot to assess the situation. Deputy Inspector General (South Western Range) Kanwar Bishal Singh also reached the area to monitor developments.
In a bid to restore order, the administration imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 in the Shagabari area.
The violence is linked to longstanding opposition from local residents to the proposed bauxite mining project in Sijimali. The private company involved, which operates in sectors including metals, oil and gas, critical minerals, power and technology, had received approval from the state government for mining in the region. The construction of a road from Shagabari to Sijimali, intended to facilitate mining operations, intensified local resentment, ultimately leading to Tuesday’s clashes.
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