The Indian activist jailed after taking on a luxury hotel plan

What the report says

Pranab Doley, a 40-year-old activist known for campaigning on land and rights issues around Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, remains in detention after his planned release was blocked by the state government. According to BBC World News, Doley was arrested after taking part in a June protest against a proposed luxury hotel near the UNESCO-listed park, which is home to one-horned rhinos, elephants and tigers.

A court had granted bail to Doley and four others on 29 July, but officials then used India’s National Security Act, which allows prolonged detention without trial, to keep him in custody. The BBC said the detention order cites a long record of criminal cases, as well as allegations involving intimidation, violence and suspicious financial activity. Doley’s lawyer argued that most earlier cases were resolved and said his client was targeted because of his activism.

The case has widened into a broader dispute over land use, conservation and development around Kaziranga. Supporters of the hotel say it will attract investment and tourists, while local families and activists say people who have farmed the area for generations are being pushed aside. The district administration says the land is government-owned and that eligible residents have received compensation and support. BBC reporting also noted that a judge reviewing the protest-related case said video evidence did not fully support some police claims, adding further attention to the conflict over how development should proceed near the park.