Odisha Doctor’s Arrest Sparks Concern As Christian Groups Seek National Commission For Minorities’ Intervention

Mumbai: Christian community groups have called upon the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) to investigate the arrest of Dr. Randall Sequeira, a 39-year-old doctor from Mumbai, in Odisha's Rayagada district on October 16. Sequeira faces multiple criminal charges, including attempted murder, rioting, dacoity, armed robbery, and criminal intimidation, following an alleged attempt to incite tribal groups against the state government during a protest against a bauxite mining project in April.

Sequeira, who has ties to Mumbai, is currently detained in Rayagada sub-jail, along with tribal activist Laxman Naik. The Rayagada court denied him bail, and he is being held without trial. Sequeira, a postgraduate in internal medicine from Sawai Man Singh Medical College, began working in the tribal regions of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts in 2017, providing medical consultations and medicines to economically disadvantaged families and assisting local students in preparing for medical entrance examinations.

A Mumbai-based citizens' group, Watchdog Foundation, has written to the NCM, requesting an examination of the circumstances surrounding his arrest. The foundation's representatives stated that Sequeira's name was not included in the original First Information Report (FIR), which does not, on its own, establish innocence or render his arrest unlawful.

However, they emphasized that the circumstances warrant scrutiny to ensure that the investigation is based on credible evidence and that no one experiences arbitrary or discriminatory treatment. The foundation's statement aimed to ensure that the criminal justice process remains fair, impartial, and consistent with constitutional guarantees.