Overview
- BJD and Congress, following Tuesday's violent clash over a road to the Sijimali bauxite site, sent fact-finding teams to Rayagada.
- Officials reported about 70 injuries, imposed curbs on gatherings in Shagabari, and registered three police cases with no arrests.
- Party leaders alleged police used excessive force, including firing, and demanded the Governor's intervention and a fresh gram sabha.
- The district said the road sits on government land, while villagers said no legally required gram sabha was held and warned of harm to forests and livelihoods.
- In Odisha’s Scheduled Areas, projects need gram sabha consent, a village assembly vote that can pause or block work affecting land and forests.