India, April 7 -- Around 40 police personnel were injured on Tuesday after violent clashes broke out between tribals and security forces protesting a road project linked to the proposed Sijimali bauxite mine in Odisha's Rayagada district, officials said.

The violence erupted in Sagabari village under Kashipur block, where residents opposing the mining-linked infrastructure project allegedly attacked police with stones, axes and other sharp weapons, escalating a long-running conflict over land, forest rights and industrial development in the region.

Police said the confrontation began early in the day when personnel were deployed to facilitate construction of a roughly 3-kilometre road from Purlang to Sagabari Ghat, intended to provide a...