To
Sri Mohan Majhi,
The Chief Minister of Odisha
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Subject: Urgent Appeal to Take Immediate Steps To Curb State Violence on Adivasis and Dalits of Raygada and Kalahandi
Dear Sir,
As concerned citizens, we express our collective condemnation of the brutal violence unleashed on the villagers of Kantamal in Kashipur block of Raygada district from late night to the wee hours this morning. Both the police and senior district officials were present.
We are deeply concerned that in a democracy, Adivasis and Dalits opposed to the mining operations of Vedanta Limited and its contract company Maithri, have been subject to ceaseless violence and arbitrary arrests since mid-2023. Now, to begin construction work, the violence has escalated targeting the leaders of Ma Mati Mali Surakhya Mancha, the people’s local forum. It is to be noted that people have adopted all democratic means to protect their land, livelihood, water and air while also holding on to their cultural heritage and the abode of Tij Raja their scared deity. This entire area is protected under the Fifth Schedule Area of the Indian Constitution.
In order to reject the proposed mining project, Ma Mati Mali Surakhya Mancha has appealed to all authorities from the local administration to the state government and from the concerned union ministers to the President of India. They have asserted their objections against mining in testimonies in the public hearings of the Odisha Pollution Control Board. In the same way, as per the FRA provisions, villagers organised Gram Sabhas in which they have clearly and unanimously rejected the mining project and the required forest clearance to protect their lives, livelihood and cultural identity. However, in this Scheduled Area, the state administration has resorted to repression to push through Vedanta Limited’s mining project.
As a result, hundreds of criminal cases have been foisted on the people and almost a hundred of them have undergone incarceration and many still continue to languish in jail.
Repression on the people has escalated sharply in the last few months. We urge your attention to a few incidents:
On the night of March 10, after a local village conflict, hundreds of police descended on Talaampadar village in the middle of the night and picked up 21 adivasis, including 10 women. They raided houses and damaged people’s houses and belongings. Among the women, there is a nineteen-year old who is pregnant and some with small children at home. They are now languishing in District Jail of Bhawanipatna of Kalahandi district. On 25 March, Lingaraj Azad and Suresh Sangram of Samajwadi Jan Parishad were arrested and are today in Raygada Jail.
The actions of the police and administration instead of being in accordance with the law clearly seems to be aiding the company. On February 26, 27 and 28, around 200 police and paramilitary forces caused much terror and intimidation under the cover of executing arrest warrants issued by the SDM Rayagada and JMFC Kashipur on the walls of some members of “Ma Mati Mali Surakhya Mancha”.
Sagabari, Bantej, Bondel, Kantamal and Talaampadar are witnessing a massive presence of armed police and vehicles, drones flying on the area, and police on the lookout for leaders. Drones are followed by 18 to 25 vehicles and marches of armed police through the area along with private persons.
Adivasi peasants and wage workers are losing out on earnings and cultivation work. They can no longer go out to the forest and river for nature’s call or other daily chores because of the surveillance done by drones flying overhead as it violates their privacy. People are now carrying water to their houses to do the daily chores. They can neither buy medicines nor go to shops to buy essentials from sheer intimidation.
On 3rd April, the police and administration announced prohibitory orders from loud speakers. People were prohibited from assembling in more than four within 100 meters of the approach road being constructed to the mining area. As construction work began with a massive presence of police force, villagers stood ground and refused them entry from April 4 to 6.
After three days of peaceful disobedience of prohibitory orders, the police resorted to violence by entering Kantamal village at midnight of April 7. They fired tear gas shells. They killed a cow. People came rushing out; many were injured by police lathis. Two women have sustained head injuries. People are unable to seek medical assistance.
Sir, as local Adivasi and Dalit communities continue to live under a climate of terror and constant fear, we urge you to take the following steps without delay:
Revoke the prohibitory orders issued by the Rayagada SDM under Section 163 of the BNSS.
Revoke the proposed mining lease in Sijimali and ensure the protection of the jal, jangal and jameen of the Adivasis of the region.
Ensure that the proposed approach road to the mining area is stopped immediately.
Withdraw the entire police force in the area and immediately stop all drone surveillance.
Withdraw all criminal cases foisted on villagers who are opposed to bauxite mining.
Ensure the immediate release of all those in prison.
Implement properly the PESA and FRA in Fifth Schedule areas.
We urge you, in your capacity as Chief Minister and Chairperson of the Tribal Advisory Council, to intervene urgently and ensure that all necessary steps are taken to protect and uphold the constitutional and democratic rights of the people of this region.
Thanking you,
On behalf of Concerned Citizens Forum, Odisha
Ananta Lokmukti Sangathan, Jharsuguda
Asutosh Parida, Poet, Bhubaneswar
Archana Rath, Analyst
Akankshya Mahapatra, Writer and Researcher
Balabhadra Mallick, Chasi Mali Surakhya Samiti, Kandhamal
Bibhrant Biswajit, Mulnivasi Student & Youth Front (MSYF)
Bichitra, TUCI
Biswapriya Kanungo, Advocate
British Kumar, Khandualamali Sthai Surakhya Samiti, Kalahandi
Damodar Behera, Dalit Adhikar Andolan, Kalahandi
Dandapani Mohanty, Political Activist
Deba Prasad Rai, Lohia Academy
Debaranjan, Gantantrik Adhikar Surakhya Sangatha, Bhubaneswar
Debati Behera, AICCTU
Dr Bijay Bohidar, Retd Professor, Bhubaneswar
Dr Birendra Nayak, Retd Professor, Bhubaneswar
Dr Biswajit, Gandhi Peace Foundation, Odisha
Dr Randall Sequeira, Bhawanipatna
Dr Sumitra Patel, Retd Professor, Bhubaneswar
Dr Swadhin Pattnaik, Retd Professor, Bhubaneswar
Drinju Krusika, Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti
Gaurang Mahapatra, CFSHR
Golak Nath, Gantantrik Adhikar Surakhya Sangathan, Bhubaneswar
Hena Rani, Akhil Bharatiya Krantikari Mahila Sangathan
Jameswar Samantaray, Odisha Krushak Sabha
Jayant Das, AITUC, Odisha
Lada Sikaka, Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti
Lenin Kumar, Poet and Political Activist
Lingaraj Pradhan, Jai Kisan Andolan, Bargarh
Mahindra Parida, AICCTU
Manoranjan Swain, Social Worker
Narendra Mohanty, Campaign against Fabricated Cases, Bhubaneswar
Nigamanand Sadangi, Author and Activist
Pradeepta Nayak, Human Rights Activist
Pradyumna Behera
Prafulla Samantara, Lok Shakti Abhiyan
Prakash Kumar Samantasinghar, RTI Activist
Pramila, Prashant Paikrai, Jindal-POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti
Pramodini Pradhan, PUCL, Odisha
Pranab Jena, CPDRS
Pratap Chandra Pradhan, IFTU, Odisha
Pratap Nayak, AIKMS, Odisha
Radhakanta Sethi, AIPF, Bhubaneswar
Rajkishore Sunani, Samjwadi Jan Parishad, Kalahandi
Ranjana Padhi, Author and Feminist
Rumita Kundu, Social Activist
Sanghamitra Jena, AISF, Odisha
Sarat Baral, AICCTU, Khordha
Saroj Mohanty, Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samnvya Samiti
Shankar, AIKKS
Sharanya Nayak, Solidarity Worker
Sidhartha, Activist and Designer
Sonia Chand, Film Maker
Srikant Mohanty, Chaasi Mulya Sangha, Odisha, AIKMKS
Srimanta Mohanty, Political Activist
Sudhir Pattnaik, Media Person
Sushree Rajlaxmi, Student
Swati Azad, Activist, Bhubaneswar
Tuna Mallick, Adivasi Bharat Mahasabha
Venkatesh M, Paralegal Worker, Bhubaneswar
By Concerned Citizens
Courtesy : Counter Currents
Note: This news is originally published on https:/countercurrents.org/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights