An Orissa High Court order records a public-interest petition alleging that police attacked tribal villagers, broke into and damaged homes, used force and arrested multiple people during operations connected to protests against road construction for the Sijimali mining project. The reported sequence includes arrests on 10 March 2026 and a later police operation affecting Kantamal and Sagabari during the night of 6–7 April. The petition alleges that women, including a pregnant woman and women accompanied by infants, were detained without being told the grounds and were physically humiliated. The State told the court that police were executing non-bailable warrants and that numerous police personnel were injured after villagers attacked them. The court ordered joint spot verification and a State affidavit but did not determine whether the allegations were true.
This page documents reported allegations and the evidence position shown below. It does not by itself establish legal guilt or personal responsibility. Institutional responses are recorded separately from verification.
How verification works →In W.P.(C) No. 11756 of 2026, the Orissa High Court ordered the Rayagada Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of Police, together with the sarpanches of Kantamal and Sagabari, to conduct a joint spot verification and directed the State to file an affidavit. The order dated 7 August 2026 recorded competing allegations and did not decide their truth.
A source makes or records this allegation; Copwatch has not independently established it.
A source makes or records this allegation; Copwatch has not independently established it.
The Orissa High Court directed police officials and village representatives to conduct joint spot verification and directed the State to file an affidavit concerning the allegations.
No published follow-up check has been recorded for this incident.
