By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:Human rights activist and environmentalist Dilip Kumar Samantray, who has been complaining to government authorities for many years against illegal stone quarrying, rock blasting, and illegal sand mining from the Mahanadi and its tributaries in Nayagarh district, has approached the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) alleging that his life is under threat.
Shri Samantray, a resident of Bajrakot village under Ranpur police station, had sent a written complaint to the Principal Secretary, Home Department, Odisha Director General of Police, Nayagarh District Collector and Nayagarh SP on 11 July 2026. Later, on 13 July, he filed a complaint with the Odisha Human Rights Commission seeking justice and protection regarding the same complaint.
In the application, he stated that since 2015, he has been continuously writing to various departments against illegal mining of monkey rock and laterite rock, hill blasting, destruction of reserved forests and illegal sand smuggling from the Mahanadi in Ranpur, Odgaon, Khandapada and Daspalla tehsil areas.
In this regard, he mentioned that while filing OY No. 83/2022 with the National Green Tribunal, a fine of more than Rs 100 crore has been imposed as environmental compensation in the illegal stone quarrying incident in Mayurjhalia area. Similarly, he said that legal action has also been taken against Kotgarh Park and Resort, Dengajhari Ashram and Wonderla Holidays Limited in Khurda district for encroachment of forest land.
In the petition, Mr. Samantaray has alleged that he is currently being targeted by the stone and sand mafia due to his complaints against illegal mining and poaching and seeking information under the Right to Information Act. According to his complaint, he has claimed that there is a conspiracy to register multiple false cases in his name and send him to jail or kidnap and kill him with the help of the District Additional SP Jyoti Ranjan Samantaray, Diptikanta Pradhan, Ashishdev Sahu and Laxmikant Baral @ Pappu and some other police officers.
He further alleged that there is a nexus between some police officers in Nayagarh district and the illegal mining mafia. In his petition, he mentioned that hundreds of illegal stone quarries and rock blasting are going on in Nayagarh district, causing huge damage to the forest, environment and government revenue. He also demanded an impartial investigation into the killing of Ajit Sahu, who was protesting against illegal stone transportation in the Odgaon area.
He has requested the Odisha Human Rights Commission to conduct a high-level investigation into his complaint, investigate the alleged nexus between the illegal mining mafia and government officials, ensure the safety of his life and liberty, and take necessary steps to prevent false cases from being filed against him.
