Image for representational use only.Image Courtesy : New Indian Express
One activist and one security official have been reportedly killed and at least seven persons have been severely injured on Monday, in a face-off between security guards of Vedanta Alumina factory and protesters in Lanjigarh in Odisha’s Kalahandi district.
As reported by local media outlets, the incident took place in front of the factory when the residents of nearby villages—all of them tribes—whose land was acquired by the Vedanta project, began protesting, demanding jobs, and against the alleged pollution caused by the factory.
According to sources, the protesters mobilised at around 4:30 in the morning in front of the factory gate, and began a protest in a peaceful manner by raising slogans. Subsequently, an unidentified mob allegedly entered the protest site, and began vandalising the premises of the factory. Personnel of Odisha Industrial Security Force (OISF) deployed at the unit then reportedly resorted to lathi-charge, resulting in violence.
The deceased are identified as Dani Patra, 47, a local activist from Chhatrapur village in Lanjigarh and Sujith Kumar, an OISF officer.
Sources told Newsclick that at least three constables were also present when the incident took place.
The state police clamped prohibitory orders under section 144 in the region and paramilitary forces are deployed there.
Newsclick tried calling Kalahandi Superintendent of Police (SP) Battula Gangadhar, who was not reachable.
The Vedanta Limited owns a 1.4 MTPA alumina refinery unit in Lanjigarh. As per Vedanta’s website, rehabilitation and resettlement package was provided to 119 project displaced families of the Kutia Kandha and Dongria Kandha tribes of Lanjigarh. As per media reports, the local Adivasis have staged several demonstrations in Lanjigarh demanding for jobs as promised by the company.
Also read: SC Disallows Re-Opening of Vedanta’s Sterlite Plant in Tuticorin