Odisha police arrested tribal rights activists Randall Sequeira and Laxman Naik over the Rayagada clash. A civil society organisation condemned the action as an attempt to suppress movements protecting natural resources.
Two tribal rights activists, Dr Randall Sequeira and Laxman Naik, were arrested. ( Photo- X/@cpimspeak)
Two tribal rights activists, Dr Randall Sequeira and Laxman Naik, have been arrested in Odisha's Rayagada clash case, six months after a confrontation between locals and police during a protest against mining activities, triggering condemnation from a civil society organisation.
Police arrested the two activists from their residences in Kalahandi district on the night of October 16. They have been charged with serious offences, including attempt to murder and rioting, and booked under the Arms Act, a senior police officer said.
The police on Tuesday rejected allegations that the arrests were aimed at suppressing protests against injustice, claiming that Sequeira and Naik had instigated tribal residents to attack security personnel during the April incident in Kantamal village of Rayagada district.
"Randall and Naik were not named in the FIR, but their involvement was found during subsequent investigation. They instigated tribal residents of Kantamal to attack the police force," said another police officer.
During the April clash, police personnel resorted to a baton charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Several locals and police personnel were injured in the incident.
South Western Range DIG Akhileshvar Singh defended the arrests, alleging that Sequeira was not providing medical services to people but was instead instigating tribals against the state government. He also accused Naik of misleading people.
"There are many doctors working in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, but no one has been arrested except Dr Sequeira," Singh told PTI, adding that people questioning the arrest should examine whether the doctor was providing medical services or instigating tribals.
Asked about allegations of police torture, the DIG said the two had not raised any such complaints before the magistrate in court.
The CPI(M) Odisha State Committee has strongly condemned the arrests of Dr. Randall Sequeira and Laxman Naik. The party alleged that the arrests were linked to their opposition to corporate mining projects in Odisha’s Sijimali and Kutrumali hills.
The Concerned Citizens Committee, Odisha, condemned the arrests, alleging that the activists were taken into custody with the "sole intention to foil the tribals' fight against injustice and for their rights over natural resources like 'Jal, Jangal & Jameen' (water, forest and land)".
The organisation alleged that state-led repression had continued against tribal and Dalit communities fighting to protect their land, forests and water resources. It also claimed that anti-mining activists supporting people's movements were being targeted through arrests.
Naik is a prominent Dalit activist associated with the Ma Mati Mali Surakhya Manch and the Samajwadi Jan Parishad. Sequeira has been working with Adivasi communities in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, according to the civil society group.
The organisation said both activists had supported people's movements against the distress caused by mining activities and industrialisation, while working to protect local communities and their habitats.
It urged democratic and progressive organisations to extend solidarity with the activists and demand the withdrawal of criminal cases against those fighting for the rights of Odisha's people over 'Jal, Jangal and Jameen'.
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