On 30 July, the day Pranab Doley was set to be released from prison, his father and lawyer arrived at the jail in Assam for his departure.
He had been arrested weeks earlier for joining a protest in June against a proposed luxury hotel near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kaziranga National Park – an area famous for its grasslands, wetlands and, most notably, the largest population of one‑horned rhinos in the world.
A court had granted Doley and four others bail on 29 July, but the Assam government invoked the National Security Act, a broad law that allows authorities to detain people for extended periods without trial. His release was denied.
The detainment order cites 13 criminal cases filed since 2017, alleging unlawful assembly, intimidation, obstruction, violence and even suspicious foreign transactions. Critics say this dossier is a pretext to quash dissent over a development that threatens the park’s ecosystem and the livelihoods of local communities.
His lawyer Mrityunjoy Pegu notes that most older cases have been resolved, with only two still pending. Pegu says Doley’s protests were aimed at protecting people and the environment, not at disrupting order.
"He is an activist who fights for people's rights," Pegu told the BBC. "That is why the police had registered some cases against him."
The controversy has spotlighted a broader debate over land ownership in the floodplain of the Brahmaputra. Local families say they have cultivated the same land for generations, even as the government maintains that it owns the 10 acres designated for the hotel.
Deputy Commissioner Biswajit Phukan said the land was not allotted to the protesting families, noting that authorities had provided land and financial assistance after verification. He also highlighted that job‑skills training was offered to help residents find work on the development site.
While supporters of the hotel claim investment, jobs and tourism, opponents fear displacement and environmental degradation. The dispute intensified when Doley joined a protest near the site on 28 June, after which police accused the crowd of damaging equipment. The judge reviewing bail noted that video footage did not support claims of violent clashes.
In court, Doley was seen speaking with officials and seeking a peaceful solution, not engaging in direct confrontation. The bail order emphasized that true public order is achieved by listening to affected communities, not by silencing them.
For now, Doley remains in prison while the legal and environmental battle continues, underscoring the complex interplay of conservation, development and human rights in one of India’s most cherished natural treasures.
