Debendra Swain is an elected member to a panchayati raj institution in Odisha, India. He is a prominent anti-displacement activist and leader of the Anti-POSCO Movement. On 14 January 2022, Debendra Swain and human rights defenders Narendra Mohanty and Muralidhar Sahoo, were arrested by police officers because of their support for the peaceful protest by the local community against the land acquisition by the district administration for Jindal Steel Work Utkal Limited, and the forcible destruction of community betel vine plantations. Police reportedly violently repressed the protest, injuring many including women and children, and arrested over 500 villagers from the protest site, including Nimai Mallick, Manguli Kandi and Trinath Mallick.

Police in Odisha had also filed a criminal case against Debendra Swain on December 4, 2021, because of his leadership role in the protests.