Rayagada, August 29, 2023

In a shocking incident on August 29, 2023, at 03:40 PM, Environmental Human Rights Defender (EHRD), Prafulla Samantara, a winner of Glodman Environmental Prize, 2017 was forcibly abducted from Hotel Swagath in Rayagada by few men later identified as police officers. The assailants were in civil dress, who snatched Samantara's phones, tied his hands and covered his face, and forced him into a waiting vehicle, sparking a media outcry over the abduction. 72 years old Samantara was held captive for two harrowing hours during which he pleaded for mercy to remove tide cloth over face citing difficulty in breathing. It was only after higher officials intervened that he was released at Berhampur, 225 KM away from the abduction site, at 09:30 PM. Astonishingly, despite filing a complaint on August 30, 2023, no copy of the registered FIR has been provided to Samantara.

The reason for abduction was that Samantara schedule a press meet on 29^th August, 2023 at Rayagada to address the issue of detention of tribal HRDs who are kept in Rayagada jail for questioning the lease of Mountains namely Siji Mali and Kutru Mali are being proposed to carry bauxite mining by Vedanta and Adani group. Lease of Siji Mali was allotted to Vedantha and lease of Kutru Mali was allotted to Adani without the permission of Gram Sabha as per forest rights act, 2006. the HRDs allege that in order to get environmental clearance through public hearing, Vedanta and its contract firm Maitri infrastructure and mining India Pvt Ltd tried to allure the tribals with the promise of money. The above move was questioned by local leaders, it was retaliated by the company with help of police. On 4^th and 7^th August tribal villagers engaged in peaceful demonstration against mining activities. On 8^th and 12 August, 2023 on the basis of different complaints from company officials The Kasipur police registered Fir against total 300 people from different villages for opposing mining activities. Following the complaint the police arrested 21 tribal HRDs and remanded them in Rayagada district jail. Subsequently On August 16, 2023 HRDs Dhanful Majhi, Sitaram Majhi and Anil Nayak who are leaders of the NSS were arrested by the District Police of Rayagada without informing their family members about their whereabouts and in violation of D.K Basu Guidelines in connection with the FIR No 93, 96, 97 and 101 in Kasipur police station.

Human Rights Defenders Alert (HRDA) strongly asserts that this act is a reprisal for Samantara's 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 of abduction of HRD and submit the report to NHRC within Two Weeks and to direct the DGP of Odisha on the basis of enquiry the alleged police men should be suspended as well as take further action.