Vedanta Mining Activists Arrested in Sijimali; Civil Society Alleges Intimidation

Activists in South Odisha face arrests amid protests against Vedanta's bauxite mining in Sijimali. On October 16, Laxman Naik and Dr. Randall Sequeira were detained in Bhawanipatna without warrants. Police seized phones and held them overnight without family access. Civil society alleges fabricated charges under BNS, calling it part of nationwide repression. The case links to April clashes in Kantamral village, where police used force. Ongoing arrests since 2023 highlight resistance to corporate land acquisition. Communities demand protection of sacred lands and self-governance rights.