The Odisha Congress has set up a 13-member fact-finding committee to look into claims of police misconduct against displaced individuals protesting construction activities by a private firm in Sijimali, Rayagada district. The committee, led by Koraput MP Saptagiri Ulaka, will visit the site and present its findings to the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC). The party strongly criticized the police’s actions, condemning the suppression of peaceful protests by displaced persons seeking justice.
The Congress party expressed dismay over the police’s handling of the situation in Rayagada district, emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic rights and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. It highlighted a historical lack of government commitment to addressing displacement issues arising from mineral extraction and industrialization in Odisha. The party also pointed out the failure to enforce legal protections for affected communities under the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA).
Citing a series of past movements championed by the Congress to protect the rights of displaced individuals in Odisha, the party underscored its consistent advocacy for the welfare of project-affected people. The recent clash between police and tribal residents in Rayagada district stemmed from tensions surrounding a road construction project linked to the Sijimali bauxite reserve, resulting in injuries to over 60 individuals, including around 40 police officers. Local protests against the proposed bauxite project have been ongoing for several years.
