Bolangir, July 23 (UDN): Tension intensified in Kumiapali village under Loisingha block of Odisha’s Bolangir district after six tribal protest leaders were detained by police during a late-night operation amid an ongoing agitation against the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project.
The detentions came as 84 tribal families continued their protest against displacement, refusing to vacate the village despite rising water levels in the reservoir.
According to villagers, the police entered the protest site at the village community hall during the night while many of the demonstrators were asleep. The protesters alleged that six of their leaders were taken into custody and that traditional weapons kept at the site were also seized.
Residents claimed that women and children had returned home after the day’s protest, while a number of men and elderly villagers remained at the protest venue overnight when the police action took place.
The incident has further escalated tensions in the area, with protesters alleging that they were not informed about where the detained leaders had been taken.
Protest Against Displacement Continues
The agitation has entered its fourth day, with affected families opposing displacement linked to the Lower Suktel project. Protesters have maintained that they will not leave their ancestral homes despite the gradual rise in the reservoir’s water level.
On Wednesday, senior district officials, including the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) and the Sub-Collector, held discussions with the villagers in an attempt to break the deadlock. However, the talks failed to yield a breakthrough, with the families reiterating their refusal to relocate.
Villagers Return Welfare Cards
In a symbolic protest against the administration, several residents reportedly handed back their government welfare scheme cards, accusing the authorities of ignoring their concerns over rehabilitation and resettlement.
The administration has not yet issued a detailed statement on the detention of the tribal leaders. Meanwhile, police presence has been intensified in the area to maintain law and order as the standoff continues.
The Lower Suktel Irrigation Project has remained a contentious issue for years, with displaced families demanding adequate rehabilitation, compensation, and safeguards before vacating their villages. The latest developments have once again brought the rehabilitation concerns surrounding the project into sharp focus.