Front Line is deeply concerned that human rights defenders, Duskar Barik, Mamata Barik, Jayanti Sethy and Ranjan Patnaik currently fear arrest by police following reports that they have alleged links with armed Maoist groups. The above-mentioned human rights defenders all work for the Keonjhar Integrated Rural Development and Training Institute (KIRDTI), an organisation that campaigns for the land rights of adivasis, or indigenous populations, ecological protection from mining and illegal felling of woods, in Harichandanpur and Banspal Block of Keonjhar district in Orissa. KIRDTI is also involved in working on development activities with the 'Juang' tribal community. 
