Development or displacement? Odisha mining row raises tribal concerns

A growing political storm has erupted in Odisha over alleged state brutality against tribal communities protesting a bauxite mining project in Rayagada district, with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) urging President Droupadi Murmu to step in.

The controversy centres around the Sijimali bauxite mining project in Kashipur block, where tribal villagers have been resisting road construction linked to mining operations awarded to a private company. Tensions escalated on April 7 when violent clashes broke out between locals and security personnel, leaving around 60 police personnel and over 10 villagers injured .

After visiting the ground, fact-finding teams from the BJD, Congress, and Left parties accused the administration of violating the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) and Forest Laws, legislation meant to safeguard tribal rights over land and resources. They alleged that industrial interests were being prioritised over constitutional protections.

Addressing the media, BJD leaders Jagannath Saraka, Jhina Hikaka, and Priyabrata Majhi described the government’s actions as “inhuman and barbaric” , directly targeting vulnerable tribal communities. They pointed out that Odisha is led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi , himself a tribal, while the country has a tribal President and a Union Tribal Affairs Minister, yet tribals continue to face repression .

More serious allegations have also surfaced. Leaders claimed that on the night of April 6, electricity was cut off in villages before a late-night police operation, which they termed a “brutal crackdown on sleeping villagers.” These claims have intensified demands for accountability.

BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra has written to Union Minister Jual Oram, urging immediate intervention to restore peace and ensure justice. Meanwhile, Congress leader Saptagiri Ulaka alleged that gram sabhas were manipulated , claiming that multiple meetings were conducted hastily to secure consent.

With opposition parties uniting on the issue, the Sijimali dispute has grown beyond a local protest into a larger debate on tribal rights, governance, and development . The focus now shifts to whether authorities will uphold legal safeguards or push forward amid mounting resistance.