Odisha villagers clash with police over land acquisition for mega cement project

Tension continues to simmer in Lanjiberna under Rajgangpur block in Odisha’s Sundargarh district over the proposed land acquisition for a mega cement project. What began as a protest by local villagers has now escalated into a major law and order challenge, with repeated face-offs between residents and the police.

On Thursday, hundreds of villagers gathered near the proposed project site and confronted police personnel deployed in the area. The situation soon turned volatile, leading to scuffles and a brief clash between the agitating crowd and security forces.

Villagers Asserting Their Ownership

Eyewitnesses said the protesters broke through police barricades and entered the disputed land, asserting their ownership. In a symbolic act of resistance, they planted red flags across the site, declaring that the land belonged to them and opposing any acquisition process.

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“We had objected to it earlier too and put up chain barricade. However, they have once again begun the work with the help of police and administration. Now, we Adivasis will no longer remain silent. All the Adivasis in Sundargarh will come together and take back our land. If our demands are not met, then we will intensify our protests. We will hit the streets, and if required, we will resort to violence,” a protesting woman said.

Heavy Police Force Deployed

The administration has deployed a heavy police force in and around the area to prevent further escalation and to maintain law and order. Officials are closely monitoring the situation to avoid any untoward incident.

The unrest follows a similar confrontation on the previous day when tensions flared during the land acquisition process initiated for the cement project. Villagers have alleged a lack of proper consultation and raised concerns over displacement and livelihood loss, while authorities maintain that the acquisition is being carried out as per due procedure.