Pranab Doley, a 40-year-old activist from northeastern India, was detained under the National Security Act on 30 July after a court granted him bail in connection with his participation in a June protest. The protest was organized against a proposed five-star hotel development near Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Doley and four others had been arrested following a 28 June demonstration, but a court approved their release on 29 July. However, the Assam government invoked the National Security Act, a broad detention law that permits authorities to hold individuals for extended periods without trial.
The government’s detention order cited allegations spanning nearly a decade, including 13 criminal cases registered since 2017 related to unlawful assembly, intimidation, obstruction and violence. Officials also raised questions about foreign transactions and the sources of funds for overseas trips. Doley’s lawyer argued that most older cases had been resolved and only two were pending before his current arrest. The activist had previously disclosed his legal history when running as an independent candidate in the state election earlier in the year. Critics contended the government was using the national security law to suppress legitimate protest against the hotel project.
The hotel dispute centers on competing claims to land surrounding Kaziranga National Park. The Assam government and its partner, the Saraf Group, plan to construct a 10-acre resort developed by Juniper Hotels and backed by American hotel chain Hyatt. Officials argue the project will generate investment, employment and higher-value tourism. However, dozens of families assert they have cultivated the land for generations and possess historical documentation of their claims, including revenue receipts dating to 1956. The district administration maintains the land is government-owned and that affected families either lack registered titles or were provided alternative compensation and assistance.
Doley’s activism reflects broader tensions between conservation and community rights around Kaziranga. Born to a farming family on the Brahmaputra floodplains, he witnessed how river erosion and flooding displaced residents while creating uncertainty about land ownership. His work has addressed multiple issues including alleged extrajudicial killings of suspected poachers, evictions, land acquisitions and compensation disputes. Doley has advocated internationally for protecting indigenous and local communities from the costs of development projects. The hotel project, first announced in 2023, has become a focal point for his efforts to ensure conservation efforts do not come at the expense of local residents’ rights and livelihoods.
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