Odisha Doctor Arrested Over Anti‑Mining Protests
· India · Indian Express, Hindustan Times
Randall Sequeira, an Odisha‑based physician who had trained in Bengaluru and was known for serving Adivasi communities in Kalahandi, was arrested by Kalahandi police on October 16, 2026, alongside fellow activist Laxman Naik. The police allege Sequeira incited false accusations against the state government and is charged with attempt to murder, rioting, and arms possession, and transferred him to Rayagada sub‑jail for judicial custody. Inspector General Akhileshvar Singh said four to five serious cases were pending against Sequeira, including complaints from two tribal women over his alleged incitement. The arrest follows a violent clash between tribals and police in April over construction of an approach road to the Sijimali bauxite reserve in Rayagada district, though Sequeira was not named in the original FIR. Sequeira, originally from Mangaluru, had completed his MBBS in Bengaluru and MD in internal medicine in Rajasthan before settling in Kalahandi in 2017 to work with tribal NGOs
Why it matters
The detention of a medical professional who was providing essential healthcare to Adivasi communities raises concerns over access to medical services in remote tribal regions and may deter other activists from speaking out against mining projects. The case also highlights the intensifying conflict between tribal groups and state‑backed mining interests in Odisha, with potential implications for healthcare delivery and local governance in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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