In brief
Pranab Doley, a 40‑year‑old activist from Assam, was arrested after participating in a protest against a proposed luxury hotel near Kaziranga. The Assam government invoked the National Security Act, denying him bail despite a court order. His case highlights disputes over land rights, conservation and the rights of local communities. The hotel would cover 10 acres and promise jobs, yet many families fear displacement and loss of ancestral land. Doley’s detention sparks a broader debate on development versus environmental stewardship.
Pranab Doley Faces Jail After Cheering for Kaziranga’s Future
Pranab Doley, a well‑known activist from around Kaziranga, was arrested on 30 July just as he was set to be released. The Assam police, citing a National Security Act order, kept him in custody even after a court granted him bail.
Doley, 40, joined a June protest against a 5‑star hotel planned on 10 acres near the world‑heritage park. The project promises jobs but many local families say it will displace them from ancestral land.
The government listed 13 cases since 2017, alleging unlawful assembly, intimidation and alleged foreign transactions as reasons to hold him. Critics argue that the law was used to silence dissent.
His lawyer, Mrityunjoy Pegu, noted that most older cases had been resolved, leaving only two pending. He described Doley as “an activist who fights for people’s rights.”
The protest brought attention to the tension between development and conservation around Kaziranga, where protected animals rely on the park’s fragile ecosystem.
The court, reviewing video footage, found no evidence that Doley had incited violence. Instead, the footage showed him engaging in dialogue. Despite this, he remains jailed, waiting for justice.
