Rayagada: A major clash occurred on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Shagabari village under the Kashipur block of Rayagada district. At least 33 police personnel were injured when local residents protesting against the Sijimali bauxite mining project engaged in a violent confrontation with security forces.
The incident began when construction work related to the bauxite mines was scheduled to start in the Shagabari area. Local communities, who have been resisting the project for years, gathered to halt the work. According to field reports, the situation escalated as protesters allegedly used stones and sharp weapons, including axes and swords, to attack the police.
Among the injured are senior officers, including the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Shri Girishankar Sahu and the Kashipur Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) Shri Dev Mallick. Reports indicate that at least seven of the 33 injured personnel are in critical condition and are currently being treated at the Rayagada District Headquarters Hospital, while others were taken to the Kashipur Community Health Centre.
In response to the violence, the district administration has imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (prohibitory orders) in Shagabari village to prevent further gatherings and restore order.
The unrest in Sijimali is rooted in a long-standing dispute over a 50-year mining lease granted to a Mining Major in 2023. The project covers approximately 1,549 hectares, including significant forest land. Local Adivasi and Dalit communities, organized under groups like the Maa Mati Mali Surakshya Mancha, argue that the project threatens their livelihoods, water sources, and the sacred nature of the Sijimali hills.
Activists and residents have consistently alleged that the legal requirements for “free, prior, and informed consent” from Gram Sabhas (village councils) were bypassed through forged signatures and police coercion.
Conversely, the Mining Major and State Administration have categorized the resistance as being fueled by outside instigation, leading to a cycle of arrests, detentions of high-profile activists like Medha Patkar in June 2025, and continued friction on the ground.