The Orissa High Court has sought a joint spot verification report from the Superintendent of Police (SP), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) along with Sarpanches of two affected villages of Rayagada district in an alleged case of police atrocities against tribal villagers, including a pregnant woman, over their protests opposing a mining project in the locality.

Taking note of the averments supported by newspaper reports, the Bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Chittaranjan Dash observed–

“...we cannot overlook the seriousness of the allegations and/or the statements made in the instant Public Interest Litigation attributable to the role of the Police Administration and the action having taken in this regard and, therefore, we feel that the Superintendent of Police of Rayagada along with the Deputy Superintendent of Police and the Sarpanchs [sic] of the two villages, namely, Kantamal and Sagabari shall make a joint spot verification and shall submit a report to this Court on the next date.”

The Division Bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) brought before it by one Purushottam Hikaka alleging excess intrusive actions and atrocities by the police against tribal villagers. As per the petitioner's allegations, police teams led by the Inspectors-In-Charge (IICs) of Kashipur and Karlaput police stations in the district of Rayagada made raids in the tribal villages of Kantamal and Sagabari in the wee hours of March 10, 2026.

It is the further case of the petitioner that the police teams resorted to random raids by breaking open the doors of houses, in blatant violation of the safeguards enumerated by the top Court in the case of D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1996). Moreover, the police purportedly arrested as many as 21 persons, including 10 women, a 19-year-old pregnant lady and three female persons with infants, without furnishing reasons of detention.

These actions were preceded by “peaceful protests” of villagers against construction of a road for facilitating the infrastructural needs of a mining project in the locality. Since the tribal villagers apprehended damage to their environment, they severely opposed the same. As per the State's version, the police had proceeded to the spot merely to execute a non-bailable warrant. However, the teams were attacked by the villagers and 58 police personnel suffered injuries.

The petitioner asked for a judicial probe by a sitting/retired Judge of the High Court or in the alternative, constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) monitored by the High Court for the investigation of the brutal attacks carried out by the police on the tribal villagers and also to investigate the past incidents related to the protest since 2023.

The counsel appearing for the petitioner insisted on impleading the private company which is going to be benefitted by the construction of the passage to the mining site. The Bench, however, expressed disinclination to arraign any private respondent especially when the grievances are raised against police brutalities and government action.

It was also alleged that the construction and mining works have been sanctioned without consulting the local tribal villagers. On the hand, the administration claimed to have held a Gram Sabha at the affected villages on 08.12.2023, as per the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 and the residents unanimously gave consent for carrying on the mining activities.

Notwithstanding the aforesaid claims, it was pointed out that the villagers had been protesting against the project since 2023, and the police illegally raided the villages in the odd hours of the night.

Taking into account the news reports and vehement contentions of the petitioner, the Court directed the SP and DSP of Rayagada to make a spot verification of the affected villages along with the Sarpanches and furnish a report to the Court by the next date of hearing. The police was also directed to ensure law and order in the villages and simultaneously, the villagers were asked to maintain peace.

The case is now listed on September 02, 2026 for further hearing.

Case Title: Purushottam Hikaka v. State of Odisha & Ors.

Case No: W.P.(C) No. 11756 of 2026

Date of Order: August 07, 2026

Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr. Anup Kumar Mohapatra, Advocate

Counsel for the Opposite Parties: Mr. Saswat Das, Addl. Govt. Advocate; Mr. Prasanna Kumar Parhi, Deputy Solicitor General of India

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