On August 23, 2023, at around 07.00 PM Chhattisgarh police abducted the EHRD Abhi Sadapelli from Kankadamba village and at around 08.45 PM, they abducted Dasa Kora from Bhitarkota Village without any arrest procedures. They were taken into undisclosed place where, chained, kicked and subjected to brutal torture for 3 days by the police officials. Moreover, they were interrogated them in Hindi, which was not understood by tribals EHRDs. They were not given food for one day also beaten by the police. Later they were dumped at the border of Chhattisgarh on August 26,2023 without FIR or legal procedures of arrest or detention.

The reason for the abduction is Bauxite mining lease in the Maliparbat hills has been granted to the Hindalco group. Then it was sub leased to Maitri infrastructure and mining India Pvt Ltd. The lease was allotted without the permission of Gram Sabha as per forest rights act, 2006 and the public hearing for the environmental clearance has not been done. Hence, HRDs allege that in order to get environmental clearance through public hearing, Maitri infrastructure and mining India Pvt Ltd is trying to allure the tribals in Maliparbat hills with the promise of money. This was questioned by EHRDs.

Human Rights Defenders’ Alert (HRDA) strongly believes that this act is a reprisal for 2 EHRDs environmental activism., HRDA believes it is violation of various standards including Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, condemn torture or cruel treatment.

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and corresponding international treaties affirm the right to life and liberty, protecting against arbitrary arrest or detention. Therefore, HRDA India demands following actions from NHRC-

• To direct the Director General of Investigation of the NHRC to initiate a transparent, independent inquiry in the illegal arrest and custodial torture the HRDs and submit the report to NHRC within Two Weeks.
• To direct the Director General of Police of Orissa to produce within 48 hours copies of all relevant documents pertaining to the arrest and torture for an independent examination by the Hon’ble Commission.