Police Forces from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh Clash at Border Over Kotia Villages Dispute

Police personnel from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh clashed at their inter-State border on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, amid a long-running territorial dispute over the Kotia group of villages in Odisha's Koraput district.

What Happened

The latest flashpoint stems from upcoming November 5 elections to Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies that Andhra Pradesh intends to conduct in the region. At around 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, a group of Andhra Pradesh officials and security personnel tried to enter Kotia through Neredibalasa border village. Odisha police stopped them using barricades, having also blocked a truckload of rice packets a day prior. Andhra Pradesh officials argued they had the right to hold elections there, while Odisha police asserted their jurisdiction and pointed to a 2006 Supreme Court status quo order.

Official Actions And Reactions

To prevent law and order issues, Koraput District Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, across all 21 villages of the Kotia gram panchayat under Pottangi tehsil. An all-party coordination meeting held on October 29 had resolved to block polling teams from Andhra Pradesh. Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari accused Andhra Pradesh of trying to create a constitutional crisis, stating that Odisha had filed a fresh contempt petition in the Supreme Court. Minister Pujari also claimed Andhra Pradesh was trying to influence voters through rice distribution and heavy police presence, whereas Odisha's administration supports residents year-round. Koraput Sub-Collector Fabi Rasheed stated that the situation was under control, with seven police platoons and nine executive magistrates deployed. Meanwhile, opposition party BJD likened the situation to an Indo-Pak border and blamed the Union government and the ruling alliance dynamics for remaining silent.

Context

The boundary dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh dates back to the pre-independence era and the formation of Andhra Pradesh. Odisha has cited administrative control since 1936, while Andhra Pradesh has relied on a 1942 boundary demarcation by Madras Province surveyor M. Gilby. The Supreme Court in March 2006 directed both States to maintain a status quo until an appropriate authority resolves the matter.