Bhubaneswar, Aug. 14 -- The Orissa High Court has directed a joint spot verification into allegations of police excesses against tribal villagers protesting the construction of an approach road to Vedanta Limited's Sijimali bauxite mining project in Rayagada district.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Chittaranjan Dash passed the direction while hearing a Public Interest Litigation alleging police atrocities in Kantamal and adjoining areas.
The Court directed the Rayagada Superintendent of Police, a Deputy Superintendent of Police and the Sarpanchs of Kantamal and Sagabari villages to jointly visit the spot and submit a report on the alleged police excesses during a midnight operation in April.
According...