Bhubaneswar, Oct. 27 -- Hundreds of tribals held a protest in southern Rayagada district in Odisha on Monday to demand the release of Dr Randall Sequeira and karate instructor Laxman Naik. The two were arrested in connection with clashes over Vedanta's proposed bauxite mining project, with protesters alleging that the police action is aimed at suppressing local opposition to mining.

The protesters, organised under the Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti (NSS), gathered outside the Muniguda tehsil office and demanded the withdrawal of cases against activists and an end to alleged attempts to facilitate mining in the Niyamgiri hills. They have planned another protest in Sijimali on Tuesday.

Police said the two are accused of violence, criminal inti...