Assam Activist Arrested for Opposing Luxury Hotels Near Kaziranga National Park

Assam police on Sunday arrested land rights activist Pranab Doley in Guwahati, where he was staying with a friend. The arrest stems from a case registered against him at Bokakhat police station on June 29 under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including criminal conspiracy, causing hurt to a public servant, unlawful assembly, rioting, criminal trespass, and criminal intimidation.

Doley, 40, is the convenor of the Greater Kaziranga Land and Human Rights Protection Committee (GKLHRPC). He has been leading protests against proposed luxury hotels near the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KKPTR), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest habitat of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros.

The activist had contested the Assam Assembly election earlier this year from the Bokakhat constituency as an independent candidate. His arrest has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, with Sivasagar MLA and Raijor Dal leader accusing the state government of “putting tribal people in jail for the sake of capitalists”.

Kaziranga National Park, located in Golaghat and Nagaon districts, is a critical conservation area. Environmentalists and local communities have long raised concerns about commercial development near the park, citing potential harm to wildlife and disruption of local livelihoods. Doley’s group has been a vocal opponent of the luxury hotel projects, arguing they violate land rights and environmental norms.

Authorities have not issued a detailed statement regarding the specifics of the charges. The case remains under investigation.