The Human Rights Forum (HRF) on Wednesday condemned the ongoing crackdown on Adivasi and Dalit communities in Odisha’s Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, terming it as a “troubling” escalation in the criminalisation of democratic dissent.

HRF released a statement in the wake of the recent incidents in Talaampadar and Kutamal villages, claiming that a pattern of intimidation was witnessed.

On March 10, hundreds of police personnel reportedly conducted a raid in Talaampadar, leading to the arrest of 21 people, including a pregnant woman and several minors and the security forces further went on to use tear gas on families during their sleep on April 7 in Kutamal, the State humanitarian body stated in a release.

The State is systematically targeting indigenous populations resisting bauxite mining in the Sijimali region to favour corporate interests over constitutional protections, A.P. and Telangana coordination committee member of HRF, V.S. Krishna stated in the release.

The proposed mining project, handed to Vedanta Limited, spans 1,500 hectares of ecologically sensitive land. Despite the Fifth Schedule and the Forest Rights Act (FRA), which mandate Gram Sabha consent, the State has reportedly bypassed these safeguards through coercion, HRF A.P. general secretary Y. Rajesh said.

The release further demanded an immediate halt to mining activities and the release of all detained protesters. The struggle in South Odisha is seen as a fundamental fight for the integrity of democratic rights and the survival of landscapes integral to indigenous identity.