Residents from at least 14 villages in Raigarh district in Chhattisgarh have been protesting against the proposed Gare Pelma Sector-1 coal mining project of Jindal Power Limited, citing concerns related to land acquisition, environmental impacts, and procedural compliance. The project is located in Tamnar tehsil, classified as a Schedule V area under the Constitution, where additional legal safeguards apply for projects affecting Adivasi communities.
The dispute intensified in early December 2025 following the scheduling of a public hearing at Dhorabhatha village. On 5 December, villagers opposed the proceedings and prevented the installation of infrastructure for the hearing, resulting in the process being halted on the first day. Protesters later alleged that the district administration and the project proponent conducted the public hearing at a different, undisclosed location and subsequently declared it completed without the participation of affected residents.
Following these developments, villagers rejected the validity of the public hearing and continued their protest, stating that mandatory Gram Sabha consent had not been obtained. Participants pointed to the applicability of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006, which require community consent for land acquisition and forest diversion in scheduled areas. Protesters also raised concerns about cumulative environmental and health impacts in the region, including air and water pollution, road damage due to heavy vehicle movement, and effects on agriculture and forest-based livelihoods.
A continuous sit-in protest had been underway since 5 December 2025, with participation reported from women, men, children, and elderly residents from the affected villages. On 16 December 2025, social activist and lawyer Rinchin, who has been associated with earlier anti-mining efforts in Raigarh, was arrested by the police in connection with an earlier case and released on bail the same day.
Tensions escalated on 27 December 2025, when clashes occurred between protesters and the police, resulting in injuries to police personnel], including a woman constable. Police subsequently arrested five individuals accused of assaulting and stripping the on-duty constable. Following these incidents, the Raigarh district administration stated that it had initiated the process to cancel the disputed public hearing.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Complaint against procedural violations
Demand to cancel the project
Refusal to give up land for the project
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Forest and Non-Forest
What was the action taken by the police?
Detention
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
40
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from detention
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project stalled due to protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Yes
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land, Residential area, Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Yes
Source/Reference
A proposed public hearing for the Gare Pelma Sector-1 coal block in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district was halted following sustained protests by villagers, forcing Jindal Power Limited (JPL) to seek withdrawal of its application. https://english.dainikjagranmpcg.com/states/chhattisgarh/coal-mine-public-hearing-halted-in-raigarh-after-protests-jindal/article-11441
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
9504.7
Type of investment:
Investment Expected
Year of Estimation
2025
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Constitutional Law, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Environmental Law, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Land Acquisition Laws, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Non-implementation/violation of FRA
Non-implementation/violation of PESA
Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act
Violation of free prior informed consent
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Arrest/detention/imprisonment
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
During the anti-coal mining protests in Raigarh district, several detentions and arrests took place in late 2025. Social activist Rinchin was taken into custody on 16 December 2025 in connection with an earlier case related to anti-mining actions and released on bail the same day. On 27 December 2025, clashes during an agitation against the Gare Pelma Sector-1 coal project turned violent, and police registered multiple cases, including for assault on a woman constable. Police subsequently arrested five individuals accused of assaulting and stripping the on-duty constable. Approximately 35–40 protesters, including a local leader, were reported detained temporarily during the clashes.
Date of Violation
December 26, 2025
Location of Violation
Raigarh
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
Detention
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
40
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from detention
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
