In early October, civil society raised concern about the continued detention of Pranab Doley, an Indigenous rights and environmental activist and convenor of the Greater Kaziranga Land and Human Rights Protection Committee, who was arrested on 12 July 2026 in connection with protests against a proposed luxury hotel project near Kaziranga National Park. Doley was charged with offences including rioting, trespassing and obstruction of public servants in connection with a 28 June protest at Inglay Pathar, where protesters raised concerns over land rights, environmental protection and the interests of local communities. He was granted bail by a Golaghat court on 29 July, but the Assam Government invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against him the following day, preventing his release. The NSA allows authorities to detain persons without a hearing for extended periods of time. Over 60 civil society organizations have condemned Doley’s continued detention under the Act and despite the court’s decision to release him on bail as ‘vindictive’. International indigenous and environment organisations as well as UN human rights experts have expressed concern over the arrests and detention of Doley and other Indigenous rights defenders in Assam and called for their release. Throughout August and September, civil society organisations have continued mobilizing for Doley’s unconditional release, withdrawal of cases against him and cancellation of the proposed hotel project. On 6 September 2026, thousands of people reportedly participated in a Bokakhat mobilisation organised by the Pranab Doley Release Demand Committee, bringing together civil-society groups, farmers’ and workers’ organisations and political parties. Participants demanded his release and adopted a resolution to intensify the movement.
Despite the pressure from civil society and international organizations, hearings have been rescheduled on multiple occasions, and the Gauhati High Court continues examining Doley’s challenge to his preventive detention. The case highlights concerns around the application of the NSA and the safeguards available to individuals facing preventive detention. Doley’s detention not only violates his freedom of expression and restricts the ability of environmental defenders to raise concerns regarding the hotel project, the use of preventive detention following the grant of bail may also have a chilling effect on activists and community organisations in other contexts.