Key facts
- Activist Pranab Doley was arrested and subsequently detained under the National Security Act in Assam, India.
- Doley was protesting a proposed luxury hotel near Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Authorities cited a decade of allegations against Doley, including unlawful assembly and obstruction, as grounds for detention.
- Critics argue the National Security Act is being used to suppress dissent against the hotel project.
- A judge who granted bail to others involved found video footage did not fully support prosecution claims against protesters.
Pranab Doley, a 40-year-old activist known for his work around Kaziranga in Assam, India, has been detained under the National Security Act, preventing his release from jail. Doley was arrested weeks prior for participating in a protest against a proposed luxury hotel near Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While a court had granted him and four others bail, the Assam government invoked the National Security Act, a law allowing extended detention without trial.
Authorities cited nearly a decade of allegations against Doley, including unlawful assembly, intimidation, obstruction, and violence, as well as suspicious foreign transactions. Critics, however, accuse the government of using this stringent law to suppress dissent against the hotel project. Doley's lawyer, Mrityunjoy Pegu, stated that most of the older cases against him had been resolved and only two were pending before his recent arrest, which he had declared when running unsuccessfully in a state election.
The proposed five-star hotel, to be built on 10 acres, is a partnership between the Saraf Group and American hotel group Hyatt, developed by Juniper Hotels. Officials argue the hotel will bring investment and jobs, attracting wealthier tourists. However, dozens of families claim they are being displaced from land they have cultivated for generations, questioning the government's ownership claims and presenting receipts for land revenue payments dating back decades.
Deputy Commissioner Biswajit Phukan stated that the land in question was government-owned and that eligible residents had been provided financial assistance and land. He declined to comment on Doley's detention to avoid prejudicing legal proceedings. The dispute highlights broader tensions over land rights, conservation, and development around Kaziranga, with Doley having previously advocated for the rights of local communities and indigenous people at international forums.
During a protest on June 28, police alleged that protesters entered the project area, damaged equipment, and attacked officers, with Doley accused of inciting the crowd. Doley's organization disputed these claims, stating police used force against protesters. A judge who granted bail to some protesters noted that video footage did not fully support several prosecution claims, observing Doley speaking with officials and seeking dialogue. Despite this, Doley remains in jail.