Activists Appeal to Odisha Governor for Release of Anti‑Bauxite Protesters

Human rights activists have appealed to Odisha Governor Braj Mohan Ram to intervene in the recent arrests of anti‑bauxite protestors in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts.

What Happened

Two activists, Randall Sequeira and Laxman Naik, were taken from Bhabanipatna in Kalahandi on October 16. Both are linked to the resistance against the Sijimali bauxite mining project proposed by the Vedanta Group. Family members and lawyers were barred from meeting them after the police detained them.

Reaction

Prafulla Samantara, a veteran rights campaigner, filed a petition with the governor on October 19. He said Dalit and tribal residents are opposing the mining plan and that police are making indiscriminate arrests on false charges. Samantara added that when a mining project arrives, locals naturally question its impact on livelihood, society and the environment, and they have a right to peaceful protest. Ranjana Padhi, another activist, echoed the claim that the detainees have been denied legal access. Samantara also highlighted that tribal leader Lada Sikaka of Niyamgiri faces several non‑bailable charges in old cases where his name does not appear in the charge‑sheets. He noted that Gram Sabhas in the Niyamgiri hill range rejected the mining proposal and that there has been no tribal agitation, yet the community is being targeted.

Context

The appeal reflects a wider pattern of protests against mining projects in tribal areas of Odisha, where communities often cite loss of land and ecological harm. Police actions in such disputes are frequently contested by human‑rights groups.