Pranab Doley detained over Kaziranga protest; Gaurav Gogoi accuses Assam government of suppressing dissent
Indigenous rights activist Pranab Doley, who has been leading protests against the proposed construction of luxury hospitality projects near Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, was detained by Dispur Police on Sunday and later handed over to Bokakhat Police in connection with a criminal case.
Videos circulating on social media showed Doley protesting as police escorted him to Dispur Police Station. Claiming that he had been taken into custody without being shown any documents, Doley questioned the state of democracy, saying people were no longer allowed to raise their voices on public issues.
Police sources said a case had been registered against Doley at Bokakhat Police Station under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to unlawful assembly, obstruction, criminal intimidation and other offences. Following preliminary questioning at Dispur Police Station, he was transferred to the custody of Bokakhat Police for further legal proceedings.
A member of Assam’s indigenous Mising community, Doley has been actively campaigning against the proposed luxury hotel projects near Kaziranga, alleging that the developments could adversely affect the park’s fragile ecosystem and threaten the rights and livelihoods of local communities.
An alumnus of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) with a Master’s degree in Social Work, Doley has founded and co-founded several civil society organisations, including the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Advocacy (CNAPA), the All Kaziranga Affected Communities’ Rights Committee, the People Ecology Network and the Jyoti Bishnu Cultural and Research Centre. His work has focused on indigenous rights, environmental conservation, sustainable development and community welfare.
The detention triggered a political row, with Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi accusing the BJP-led state government of attempting to suppress democratic dissent through police action.
Reacting to the development, Gogoi said a democratic government should engage with criticism through dialogue rather than intimidation. He alleged that the government was trying to silence those who questioned its policies instead of addressing their concerns.
Referring to the detention of Doley and the earlier action against activist Aditya Rabha, Gogoi described the developments as “deeply disturbing” and questioned whether raising concerns over the rights of indigenous communities had become an offence in Assam.
“Speaking up for one’s rights cannot be treated as a crime. A democratic government must respond with dialogue, reason and transparency, not police action,” Gogoi said, adding that public voices and legitimate questions could not be silenced through coercive measures.
The detention has further intensified the debate surrounding the proposed hospitality projects near Kaziranga National Park. While the Opposition has termed the police action an attack on democratic freedoms and environmental activism, police officials have maintained that Doley’s detention is linked to an ongoing criminal case registered at Bokakhat Police Station.