In brief
Pranab Doley, a prominent environmental activist from Assam, is currently held in jail after a protest against a proposed luxury hotel near Kaziranga National Park. The hotel, a 5‑star resort backed by Juniper Hotels, would occupy ten acres of land adjacent to the UNESCO‑listed park. The state government invoked the National Security Act to detain Doley, citing a long‑running list of criminal cases and allegations of unlawful activities. Critics view the detention as an attempt to quell dissent, while the protest underscores deeper land‑ownership disputes and concerns about environmental impact. The incident has sparked debate over development versus conservation and the rights of local communities.
Assam's most vocal environmental campaigner, Pranab Doley, is currently detained after a protest against a luxury hotel planned on the outskirts of Kaziranga National Park.
Doley, 40, had a high profile presence in July when he joined a June protest against the hotel framework, a 5‑star property operated by Juniper Hotels that would occupy about ten acres of land near the UNESCO‑listed park.
After a court granted bail on 29 July, the state government invoked the National Security Act, citing 13 criminal cases and allegations of unlawful assembly, intimidation and overseas transactions.
Critics see the move as an effort to silence dissent. The protest has also intensified longstanding disputes over land use, with families who have farmed the same plots for generations claiming ancestral ownership.
The hotel promises job creation and tourism revenue but critics argue that the development threatens the delicate ecosystem and the livelihoods of local communities that depend on the park.
