India, June 5 -- Environment activist Medha Patkar was detained along with over 20 others by the Rayagada administration shortly after she arrived in the Odisha district on Thursday to participate in a public meeting in protest against the proposed bauxite mining by Vedanta Limited.

Officials barred her from reaching the place along with 24 others, including activist Prafulla Samantra and IRS officer Sunanda Jhodia, citing that her presence at the protest at Sunger Hatapada village, organised by anti-mining forum 'Maa Mati Mali Surakshya Mancha', could create a law-and-order situation.

Rayagada district collector Parul Patawari's order, dated June 4, said there is a reasonable apprehension the movement and the presence of Patkar and oth...