Report on Violation of Human Rights released

By Bijay Mishra 
Bhubaneswar, 15/01/2026
The report of the public hearing held by Lok Shakti Abhiyan and Civil Society Forum for Human Rights (CSFHR) regarding the violation of human rights and constitutional laws during the democratic protests for the protection of natural resources in various parts of Odisha was released on Thursday at the Lohia Academy premises. 

Among others Professor Manoranjang Mohanty, Professor Sumitra Patel, senior journalist Sudhir Patnaik, Justice Minoranjang Mohanty  environmentalist Prafulla Samantara and social activist Gaurang Mohapatra participated in the public hearing. 

In the report they have expressed concern over  targeting people who are democratically resisting the transfer of land and forests to corporates to protect natural resources in various parts of Odisha . 

They stated through a press conference that constitutional laws like the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, PESA Act 1996, Land Acquisition Act 2013 are being continuously violated. The administration is continuing the process of land acquisition and conversion of forest land without the prior consent of the people. In the name of development, people are being forcibly evicted in many places. False cases are being registered against them and their right to protest is being taken away. Despite the fact that every citizen has the right to life as per Article 21 of the Constitution, many innocent villagers are being kept in jail. In areas like Sijimali and Lanjiberna, where village councils have rejected mining, police brutality is being used as a tactic to forcibly displace people.

The members of the Committee have recommended that a High Court or Supreme Court-appointed commission conduct a judicial inquiry into the police and corporate repression and punish the guilty officials. They have also proposed the formation of an independent committee to scrutinize the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (EIA/SIA), the proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act . 

This report is based on the evidence presented by various human rights and mass movement activists on the government’s policies and police repression of the ongoing mass movements for water, land and forest rights in various parts of Odisha. 

The report highlights the impact of mega projects on tribal, Dalit and marginalised communities, their livelihoods and the natural environment.

The report highlights the repeated disregard for constitutional safeguards under Article 371(1) of the Constitution and the Fifth Schedule and the PESA Act.

Public consultation has been blocked during the environmental and social impact assessment, as can be seen in the Essar-Minmet pipeline and Jindal-Posco mining projects. In Kalinganagar, Keonjhar, Koraput and Rayagada, the livelihoods of the local people have been threatened due to water pollution and loss of farmland. Peaceful protesters are being arrested on charges of murder and attempt to murder.
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Full report and the recommendations of the jury will be submitted to the Honourable President , Governor of Odisha, the National Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.