Bhubaneswar, Two tribal rights activists, Dr Randall Sequeira and Laxman Naik, were arrested in connection with a clash in Odisha’s Rayagada district six months ago, prompting a civil society organisation to condemn the police action and allege that it was aimed at foiling protests against injustice.
The civil society group – Concerned Citizens Committee, Odisha – condemned the arrests and alleged that the two were taken to custody with “sole intention to foil the tribals’ fight against injustice and for their rights over natural resources like ‘Jal, Jangal & Jameen’ . “The arrested persons were not innocent. Dr Randall Sequeira was not providing medical services to the people but was engaged in instigating tribals against the state government. Naik was also misleading people. Why do police arrest any innocent person, especially a doctor?
On the night of October 16, the police arrested Sequeira and Naik from their residences in Kalahandi district, a senior officer said.
South Western Range DIG Akhileshvar Singh told PTI over the phone. There are many doctors working in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, but no one has been arrested except Dr Sequeira, the officer said. Asked about the alleged torture by the police, the DIG said, “They have not made any such allegations before the magistrate in the court. The police said Sequeira and Naik were arrested in connection with a case linked to a clash between locals and police personnel in April in Kantamal village in Rayagada.
The police on Tuesday rejected the allegation, claiming that the two had instigated tribals to attack security personnel in Kantamal village during a protest against mining activities in the area in April.
