One Killed, Six Injured in Rourkela Rail Project Protest

Bhubaneswar: A protest against a railway project in Odisha’s Rourkela city turned violent on Friday, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to at least six others, including police personnel and government officials.

The deceased has been identified as Yeto Ekka (37) of Barkani village. According to reports, Ekka was allegedly hit by an earthmover engaged in the construction work of a rail line project connecting Dumerta with the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP).

The incident, which occurred in the morning hours, triggered outrage among local residents who had been opposing the project. Enraged by Ekka’s death, protestors gathered at the site and accused the administration of negligence.

The situation quickly escalated as the protest turned violent. Demonstrators reportedly pelted stones at police and government officials deployed at the site and even attacked security personnel using bows and arrows.

Among the injured are Rourkela Additional Tahsildar Purusottam Nayak, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Rajendra Sahu, the earthmover operator, and three others. All injured individuals were immediately shifted to the Rourkela Government Hospital for treatment.

Security has been heightened in the area as authorities continue to monitor the situation. An investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident and to prevent further unrest.