Villagers in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur District, India, have been protesting the land acquisition for the steel plant, planned by Jindal Steel Works Ltd (JSW), since the project was proposed in 2017. On November 22, 2021 several residents opposed the mega project at a public hearing in Dhinkia and on december 6, villagers clashed with police after erecting bamboo barricades to restrict entry to Dhinkia village to oppose JSW's steel plant project at the site.

Activist criticise the allegedly fabricated charges and attempted arrest the prominent anti-displacement campaigner Debendra Swain on false charges. They claim the police is unnecessarily harassing local activists and residents to silence the anti-displacement movement. Several environmental activists have been charged after the peaceful demonstrations and criminal cases were filed against at least 200 villagers.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited JSW to comment; the company did not respond.