Rayagada bans entry of activists to six panchayats over mining project tensions
The prohibitory orders under section 163 of the BNSS, 2023 has been imposed on 'Maa Mati Mali Suraksha Manch' and 'Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti' along with their office-bearers and activists including Prafulla Samantara, Narendra Mohanty, Lingaraj Azad, Raja Ranjan, Saranya Kumari, Raj Kishore Sunani and Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar.
They have been barred from entering, assembling, addressing any gathering or participating in any public or quasi-public activity within the jurisdiction of Sunger, Adajore, Sindoor Ghati, Talajhiri and Kashipur gram panchayats.
The organisations have been planning meetings in Sijhimali hill region along with processions in these panchayats on the occasion of World Indigenous People's Day on Saturday.
The orders came following two petitions received by Rayagada sub-collector from locals of Sagabari and Sunger about the movement and mobilisation of certain people in the past 10 days, threatening tribals to oppose the mining project at Sijhimali or face social boycott, apart from the intelligence inputs.
'The organisations inviting the activists have neither intimated the district administration nor submitted the list of speakers. Although the district administration attempted to contact some individuals, including Patkar, they did not respond to calls while some replied that they may come,' the orders stated.
Stating that the entire Sijhimali region has a high threat of left-wing extremism, Rayagada collector Ashutosh Kulkarni asked the SP to take necessary preventive and coercive action to pre-empt any breach of peace.
Earlier, a similar order on the ban of entry of a doctor and activists was challenged in the Orissa High Court, which had quashed the controversial order.
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New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Rayagada bans entry of activists to six panchayats over mining project tensions
BHUBANESWAR: The Rayagada administration has prohibited entry of two organisations and their office-bearers along with seven civil rights activists to six gram panchayats of the district from Friday till August 11 unless specifically permitted. The prohibitory orders under section 163 of the BNSS, 2023 has been imposed on 'Maa Mati Mali Suraksha Manch' and 'Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti' along with their office-bearers and activists including Prafulla Samantara, Narendra Mohanty, Lingaraj Azad, Raja Ranjan, Saranya Kumari, Raj Kishore Sunani and Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar. They have been barred from entering, assembling, addressing any gathering or participating in any public or quasi-public activity within the jurisdiction of Sunger, Adajore, Sindoor Ghati, Talajhiri and Kashipur gram panchayats. The organisations have been planning meetings in Sijhimali hill region along with processions in these panchayats on the occasion of World Indigenous People's Day on Saturday. The orders came following two petitions received by Rayagada sub-collector from locals of Sagabari and Sunger about the movement and mobilisation of certain people in the past 10 days, threatening tribals to oppose the mining project at Sijhimali or face social boycott, apart from the intelligence inputs. 'The organisations inviting the activists have neither intimated the district administration nor submitted the list of speakers. Although the district administration attempted to contact some individuals, including Patkar, they did not respond to calls while some replied that they may come,' the orders stated. Stating that the entire Sijhimali region has a high threat of left-wing extremism, Rayagada collector Ashutosh Kulkarni asked the SP to take necessary preventive and coercive action to pre-empt any breach of peace. Earlier, a similar order on the ban of entry of a doctor and activists was challenged in the Orissa High Court, which had quashed the controversial order.
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Odisha: Medha Patkar, 6 barred from entering Rayagada villages ahead of CM's visit
Bhubaneswar: Environment activist Medha Patkar and six others have been barred from entering five villages in Odisha's Rayagada district till Sunday afternoon. This comes two months after Patkar and over 20 others were detained by the Rayagada administration. (HT File Photo) Rayagada district collector Ashutosh Kulkarni said Patkar and six others, including activist Prafulla Samantra, are prohibited from entering, assembling, addressing any gathering, or participating in any public or quasi-public activity within the jurisdiction of Sunger, Adajore, Sindoor Ghati, Talajhiri, and Kashipur Gram Panchayats in the district from the afternoon of August 8 to the afternoon of August 10, under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. Members of two organisations — Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti and Maa Mati Mali Suraksha Manch — have also been barred from entering the area during this period. The district administration's order came a day ahead of chief minister Mohan Majhi's visit on Saturday to observe World Indigenous Day and distribute funds to women beneficiaries of the Subhadra Yojana. 'During the period, all forms of padayatras, public meetings, press briefings, socio-political gatherings, or protest assemblies in the said areas by the individuals or their known affiliates shall remain strictly prohibited. The Superintendent of Police is directed to ensure strict compliance with this order and to take necessary preventive and coercive action, including enhanced deployment, round-the-clock surveillance, and, if warranted, detention of violators to pre-empt any breach of peace,' a prohibitory order issued by the district administration said. Also Read: Odisha: Medha Patkar, IRS officer detained over planned protest against bauxite mining This comes two months after Patkar and over 20 others were detained by the Rayagada administration shortly after she arrived on June 5 to participate in a public meeting protesting the proposed bauxite mining by Vedanta Limited. In March 2023, the Odisha government issued a 50-year mining lease for a proposed bauxite mining project in the Sijimali hills, with bauxite mines extending over an area of 1,549 hectares. After facing setbacks in its attempt to mine the Niyamgiri hills, Vedanta's interest shifted to Sijimali as part of its strategy to secure bauxite. The Sijimali mines have an estimated bauxite reserve of 311 million tonnes and are likely to displace 100 families from 18 villages in two districts. Vedanta has applied for the mandatory environmental clearance under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and forest clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. In October 2023, two public hearings in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts for environmental clearance ended amid widespread protests.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Three rallies to hit the streets today, cops keep options open
Kolkata: Three marches — the Nabanna Abhijan on Saturday afternoon, followed by a march to the CM's Kalighat residence in the evening, and a third march on RG Kar campus — are keeping both Kolkata and Bengal Police on their toes. The Bengal Police, along with Kolkata Police, on Friday earmarked two places for gathering for Nabanna march — one at Santragachhi Bus Stand under Howrah Police Commissionerate, and the other at Rani Rashmoni Avenue in the KP area. The top brass said this was in accordance with the HC order. In a media briefing attended by ADG (law and order) Jawed Shamim, Kolkata Police commissioner Manoj Verma, ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar, and Howrah Commissioner Praveen Tripathi, police said the ground situation will dictate if any other gathering at any place will be declared "illegal", provided it challenges the law-and-order situation or disrupts peace. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Shamim said: "Till date, we have no written or verbal communication with organisers. Based on the experience last year, we contacted the three organisers of Paschim Bongo Chhatra Samaj. All three, in writing, denied having any knowledge about the protest. As such, we used our intelligence and technical leads and found a few propagating about the protest. We have sent them letters and asked them to contact us. We are ready to help the organisers since this is for a cause. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold And Never Used SUV Is Almost Given Away (See Price) Luxury SUV Deals | Search Ads Search Now Undo But if there is any attempt to disrupt peace, proportionate, immediate, and adequate legal action will be taken. We are keeping adequate forces at adequate points." "Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS have been promulgated in areas adjoining Nabanna, and any assembly therein will be deemed illegal. Similarly, any gathering around any area under BNSS 163 in Kolkata will be immediately deemed illegal," said CP Verma. He said that permission sought by Abhaya Manch to march from Hazra to Kalighat too has been turned down. "They can take the rally alternatively from College Street to Shyambazar 5-Point Crossing," he added. "Organisers are requested to conduct their protest peacefully at the two designated locations. We are ready to help if the protest is peaceful," said ADG Sarkar. On Friday, Calcutta High Court reiterated that the protesters will ensure a peaceful protest and the police will maintain the law-and-order situation. Various trader groups of Howrah Maidan, MG Road, Brabourne Road and CR Avenue had moved the HC anticipating disruptions due to Nabanna Abhijan, considering last year's experience. The state's senior standing counsel Sirsanya Bandopadhyay informed the court that the state has decided on an alternative place of protest in Kolkata — RR Avenue. Advocate General Kishore Dutta on Wednesday, before the division bench of Justice Sujoy Paul and Smita Das De, argued that on the last occasion when the protest took an ugly turn, about 47 police personnel were injured and one lost his eyes. "It is better if the protest takes place at an alternative place decided as per policy dated July 31. The places are either Mandirtala Bus Station, Howrah Maidan, and under the Bankim Setu Flyover," it was submitted. For the protest towards Hazra, SP Mukherjee Road and Hazra Road, Byabasayee Samity had approached the bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh. The judge did not pass any order as the state submitted that cops had denied nod and that the organisation before the court was a traders' body and not the organisers, Abhaya Mancha. Sources in KP said high one-storey steel barricades, containers, and water cannons will be set up at four locations in the city (in front of Turf View on AJC Bose Road, Hastings Crossing, Khidirpur 11 Furlong Gate, and Howrah Bridge). Additionally, barricades will be placed at 19 locations. The Howrah Bridge approach will be manned by an additional CP and two joint CPs. In all, around 4,000 officers will hit central Kolkata. Howrah City Police has begun installing 10-ft-high iron guard walls on Foreshore Road, GT Road and at Santragachhi. (Inputs from Rupak Banerjee) Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
