Vedanta In Trouble: Tribals protest against Vedanta Company in this afternoon. Hundreds of angry tribals entered into the Kashipur police station of Rayagada district of Odisha and vandalized. Along with this, they protested by burning tires outside the police station. More force has been deployed as the situation continues to escalate.
According to a source, Kashipur police has arrested a tribal man Karthik Nayak. After that around 400 to 500 tribals men and women of nearer villages gathered and took out a procession towards Kashipur police station in protest against his arrest. They surrounded the police station saying Vedanta company go back, Meitri company go back.
Tribals entered the police station with their traditional weapons in hand and demanded that Karthik, who was arrested there, be released. There was a scuffle between the police and the tribals. Then tribals became angry and vandalized the police station. They came out and burnt tires and protested against the arrest.
According to the source, Vedanta Company is trying to acquire Sijimali Mine of Rayagada districts since long. That is why the company has hired another construction company called Meitri. When the Meitri Company authorities gone to occupied the mine, the local tribals protested. Later, police arrested Karthik. About which the tribals have protested against the arrest.
According to a tribal leader, the Vedanta company is actively trying to acquire the Sijimali Mine. Vedanta has engaged another Meitri Company to do this work. Officials of that company have been threatened tribals at various times and they applying muscles power to stop the protest, a tribal woman said.
Now there is tension in Kashipur. More police have been deployed to control the situation. The local Tahsildar and BDO have also been directed to reach the spot immediately.
