On October 10, 2022, a large police contingent with about 800-1000 personnel including women reached the court premises, to protest against a coal mining project by Damodar Valley Corporation, a government-owned power generation company. Some outsiders who were not part of the protests pelted stones at the police. In response, the police force used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters. They beat villagers including men and women with batons and chased them away. They also forcibly detained several protesters from the spot and took them to the Latehar police station. However, the response from police and administrative authorities turned aggressive, resulting in the arrest of 36 individuals, including six women, under fabricated charges. Instances of wrongful inclusion in the FIR, arrests of absent individuals, and the use of disproportionate force was evident.

The right to exercise freedom of speech and expression which is enshrined under Article19(a) is violated.

The right to assemble peacefully under Article 19(b) of the Indian Constitution is violated.

HRD Alert-India appeals to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to treat this as a serious case of reprisal against HRDs and take immediate action. The appeal includes urging the NHRC to initiate an independent, transparent investigation, recommend legal actions against officials involved, and ensure the protection of fundamental rights in the Damodar Valley Corporation's coal mining project area in Latehar, Jharkhand.