Mining Unrest: Tribal protest against Sijimali bauxite mine turns violent, cops injured

Rayagada: Around 50 people, including 40 security personnel, were injured in a scuffle with the tribals in Odisha’s Rayagada district over the construction of a road to Sijimali bauxite mine on Tuesday.

The protesters allegedly attacked police and the district administration officials with stones, swords, axes, and other sharp weapons in their bid to stop road construction, the police said.

The locals in the Kashipur area are against the Sijimali bauxite mine project ever since the state government handed it over to Vendant company in 2023. The tribals hence put up a strong opposition to the road construction at Shagabari village under Kashipur block.

“Of the 40 police personnel injured in the incident, 10 have sustained injuries to the head and have been admitted to the district headquarters hospital at Rayagada. The protestors pelted stones and bricks and attacked the police when they attempted to pacify them,” ADG Sanjay Kumar said.

In response to the violence, the district administration has imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (prohibitory orders) in Shagabari village to prevent further gatherings and restore order.