India, Aug. 9 -- Environment activist Medha Patkar and six others have been barred from entering five villages in Odisha's Rayagada district till Sunday afternoon.

Rayagada district collector Ashutosh Kulkarni said Patkar and six others, including activist Prafulla Samantra, are prohibited from entering, assembling, addressing any gathering, or participating in any public or quasi-public activity within the jurisdiction of Sunger, Adajore, Sindoor Ghati, Talajhiri, and Kashipur Gram Panchayats in the district from the afternoon of August 8 to the afternoon of August 10, under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

Members of two organisations - Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti and Maa Mati Mali Suraksha Manch - have also been barred from e...