Protest in Jaleswar, Odisha, is sparked by damage to the Raibania fort

The Raibania Durga Surakshya Committee members stopped development work at the Raibania ancient garrison in the Jaleswar block of the Balasore district on Monday. They claimed that the construction agency had destroyed the garrison’s three gates and protective walls as part of constructing new roads around the site, rather than restoring them to preserve their historical significance.

Leaders of political parties, including as the committee’s joint secretary Narayan Prasad Das, joined the demonstrators and emphasized the importance of keeping the centuries-old citadel intact. He added that `16.87 crore had been set aside by the state government for its construction and restoration, with Aswini Kumar Patra, the minister of state for tourism and culture, laying the foundation stone in December 2023.

The committee members emphasized that the walls and gates, built with ancient stones, provided travelers with educational landmarks, with each stone having a distinct historical value. Leader of a local political group Sudarsan Das requested the Rural Development (RD) department to carry out the building and repair works without destroying the structure, demanding consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

“A road around the garrison is necessary, but the agency cannot just demolish the existing gates and walls,” Minister Patra said. He gave the order for investigators to look into the situation and provide a report.

The Raibania fort, which was once thought to be the biggest mediaeval fort in eastern India, is a remnant of the area’s past. Brijesh Kumar Rana, the president of the Raibania Fort Development Committee (RDC), affirmed that the construction company had originally promised, in cooperation with RD authorities, to replace the old stones in their original locations after the completion of foundation work for new gates and walls.