US academics call for release of Assam land rights activist Pranab Doley

A group of academics associated with a human rights agenda in the United States has called for the unconditional release of indigenous human rights activist Pranab Doley, who was arrested for allegedly inciting violence to thwart the Assam government’s move to build a luxury hotel and museum near Kaziranga National Park.

The activist was detained in Guwahati on July 12 and arrested in Golaghat, east Assam, at 3:20 am on Monday (July 13, 2026) on allegations that he and several others “unlawfully entered with deadly weapons” the premises of the Tea Tribes Museum and later the hotel project of Ingle HyattDC’s Ingsam HyattDC. 29.

The Indigenous Rights and Protected Areas Initiative of the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program (IPLP) at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers School of Law condemned Mr. Doley’s arrest. The activist, who belongs to the Mishing community, is a member of the IPLP Advisory Council and the convener of the Greater Kaziranga Land Protection and Human Rights Committee (GKLHRPC).

Also Read: ‘How Assam allowed big hotels in and around Kaziranga?’

“We call for his immediate and unconditional release and the withdrawal of all charges stemming from the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association and the defense of the collective rights of indigenous peoples,” IPLP members, mostly academics, said in a statement on Tuesday (July 14, 2026).

According to Indigenous People’s Rights International, Asia Indigenous People’s Pact and Indian indigenous organizations, Mr. Doley was arrested in connection with a criminal case registered at Bokakhat police station on June 29. Bokakhat, in Golaghat district, is the administrative headquarters of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.

The plots were allegedly reclassified

Mr Doley, 40, was reportedly arrested without a warrant. His mobile phone was confiscated and he was reportedly denied contact with supporters before being taken from Dispur (Guwahati) police station to Bokakhat police custody.

He was booked under numerous provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, rioting, obstructing and assaulting public servants, disorderly conduct, trespass and criminal intimidation.

“We are concerned by reports that the police raided Mr. Doley’s ancestral home (near Kaziranga) in the course of a search for Rajiv Pegu, another member of the GKLHRPC, which indicates an expanding pattern of pressure on the leadership of the affected communities,” IPLP members said.

Mr. Doley and his associates led a movement of Adivasis and indigenous farming families to oppose the proposed luxury hotel project at Ingle Pathar on the edge of a national park known for its one-horned rhinos, and the alleged reclassification and allocation of ATDC community grazing and agricultural land for the project.

Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Atul Bora, who represents Bokakhat Assembly constituency, defended the arrest of the activists, arguing that the site in question was government land and ATDC had been allotted 30 bighas (9.9 acres) to build a hotel and tea tribe museum.

The IPLP members said the government acted at the time the matter was resolved. In June 2026, the Gauhati High Court issued a notice to the ATDC on a petition by 20 Adivasi farming families challenging the acquisition and fencing of land and the absence of required environmental and social impact assessments.

“The arrest of the community’s most prominent spokesperson while these proceedings are pending may, in our view, have a serious impact on the ability of affected families to pursue their claims, and we ask that it be examined in this light,” the group of academics said.

Obligations in the field of human rights

US academics said Mr Doley’s arrest violated international human rights obligations to which India is bound.

“Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a party, everyone enjoys the rights to liberty and security of person and to freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention (Article 9), to a fair hearing (Article 14) and to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association (Articles 19, 21 and 22). jurisprudence of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary detention,” they said.

“The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands, territories and resources (Articles 25-26), to compensation for land taken or damaged without their free, prior and informed consent (Article 28), to freedom from forcible eviction (Article 10) and to free, prior and informed consent to any project affecting their consent before voting in India. in favor declaration,” the academics said.

“The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders further recognizes the right of every individual, even in association with others, to promote and seek the protection of human rights and the corresponding duty of the State to protect defenders from violence, reprisal and arbitrary action (Articles 1 and 12),” they said.

Mr Doley, who contested the Bokakhat Assembly constituency twice for Mr Bor and lost twice, represented affected communities from India at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva in November 2025.

Published – 14 July 2026 19:00 IST