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Report from Odisha Solidarity gathers Momentum for People’s Struggle The peoples struggle for land and safe environment in Sipasarubali area in Puri district, Odisha is continuing in the face of repression. The leaders as well as activists who were arrested in July 2015 on several false charges have finally come out on bail. Their absence in the field for some months, no doubt, created a difficult situation for the people. But they did not lose confidence. They continued the struggle with the help of remaining leadership; solidarity extended by different political parties, mass organisations, democratic fora and intellectuals. The people’s struggle has been on two fronts. One: the people continued to repeatedly place their demands before the govt. They included: according the right over the land in possession of poor; abandoning of setting up of so called Samuka Hotel Project in the coastal area; ensuring the safe guarding of natural environment protections in the area and the withdrawal of all false cases foisted on the leaders and activists of the movement. Two: The people are demanding the prevention and stoppage of illegal and forcible cutting and smuggling of wood in the area by the wood mafia. This has been going on unabatedly ignoring the people’s protest and intervention. This is also continuing owing to the failure of govt to effectively intervene and act in spite of repeated appeals and complaints from people. On Oct 26 th night, Com. Srikanta Mohanty , the leader of Chasi Muliya Sangha, Odisha was arrested by the police on false charges in an attempt to deprive the Sipasarubali Peoples movement from the leadership. The people of the area, the political and democratic forces swiftly reacted against this December 2015 move. Next day, the protesting people, the members of “sipasarubali Andolan Samanvaya Samithi” (SAS) presented a Memorandum to the District Magistrate, Puri demanding the unconditional release of Com. Srikanta Mohnaty, withdrawal of all cases and action against the police officials who foisted the false cases against him. On Novermber 17, 2015 the Sipasarubali Andolan Samnavaya Samithi organised a GANA SAMAVESHA before the office of district Collector, Puri. Com. Srikant Mohanty was released on bail by this time. More than 1000 peoplemostly landless poor women from Sipasarubali area and several other pockets of Puri district have taken part in the meeting. A team of delegation from SASS has presented a Momorandum to the district collector. T