Kotia Row / Kotia row deepens as Odisha, Andhra Police face off over polls

Koraput, Nov 3: Tension gripped the disputed Kotia region of Odisha's Koraput district on Tuesday after Odisha and Andhra Pradesh police personnel reportedly came face-to-face over the latter state's proposed panchayat elections scheduled for November 5.

The situation turned tense at Nerediwalsa village near the Kotia border, where Odisha police allegedly objected to the movement of Andhra Pradesh officials and security personnel linked to the election process.

According to local reports, Andhra police allegedly removed barricades erected by Odisha police, triggering a standoff between the two forces and raising concerns over law and order in the sensitive border area.

Also read: Koraput Activist seeks MHA intervention over Andhra polls in Odisha territory

The latest confrontation comes amid the long-standing territorial dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh over villages in the Kotia cluster.

Despite repeated objections from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh is proceeding with plans to conduct local body elections in the disputed region, a move strongly opposed by the Odisha government and local residents.

Odisha authorities have accused Andhra Pradesh of attempting to assert administrative control over the area by extending welfare benefits and preparing electoral rolls that allegedly include residents of Kotia. The issue has once again brought the decades-old boundary dispute into sharp focus.

Odisha Vows to Oppose Polls

Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said Odisha would not allow Andhra Pradesh to conduct panchayat elections in Kotia.

"No matter how hard Andhra Pradesh tries, panchayat elections will not be allowed in Kotia this time. The people of Kotia are opposing the exercise, and all political parties in Koraput have united on this issue," the minister said.

He further stated that political leaders, social organisations, government officials and local residents would remain present in Kotia on polling day to oppose the election process.

Security Tightened Along Border

According to the minister, the state administration has intensified security arrangements across the disputed region.

"Seven platoons of police force have been deployed and check-posts have been set up. Andhra Pradesh officials have been turned back. During the previous election, polling booths were set up inside Kotia. This time, Andhra Pradesh has reportedly established polling booths outside Kotia but within its own territory," he said.

The minister also claimed that residents recently refused relief supplies allegedly brought from Andhra Pradesh during the cyclone period, stating that Odisha's administration had remained with the affected people throughout the crisis.

With polling scheduled for November 5, the situation in Kotia remains under close watch as both states maintain a strong administrative and security presence in the border region.