International Support Grows for Indigenous Rights Activist in Assam

The land and human rights issues surrounding Kaziranga National Park have drawn international attention, with representatives from 26 indigenous communities gathering in Kenya to support activist Pranab Doley. Doley's arrest and the ongoing land rights disputes have raised significant concerns, prompting calls for justice and recognition of indigenous rights. The UN has also expressed alarm over his detention, highlighting the plight of activists advocating for marginalized communities. This growing global solidarity underscores the urgent need for addressing the rights of local populations affected by proposed development projects.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 25, 2026, 12:34 IST

Global Solidarity for Indigenous Rights

File image of indigenous activist Pranab Doley, who has been detained under NSA a day after securing bail (Photo: Pranab Doley/Meta)

Guwahati, Sept 25: The ongoing land and human rights conflict surrounding Kaziranga National Park has attracted global attention, as representatives from 26 indigenous communities across seven continents convened in Kenya to show their support for Assam's indigenous rights advocate, Pranab Doley, and the local families affected by the situation.

The attendees voiced their concerns regarding Doley's detention and the land rights of indigenous and tribal families residing near Kaziranga, particularly in relation to a proposed luxury tourism initiative at Ingle Pathar.

Doley, who leads the Greater Kaziranga Land and Human Rights Protection Committee, was taken into custody on July 12, 2026, during protests against the hotel project adjacent to Kaziranga National Park. He was granted bail by a Golaghat court on July 29, but the Assam government's Political (A) Department invoked Section 3(2) of the National Security Act, 1980, on July 30, mandating his continued preventive detention at Golaghat District Jail.

The representatives from the indigenous communities in Kenya expressed their solidarity with Doley and the families embroiled in the land dispute, urging for more attention to be paid to the land rights and justice needs of indigenous and local populations.

Previously, in July, a UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights raised alarms about Doley's arrest, stating that they were “deeply concerned” about reports of activists being deprived of their liberty while peacefully advocating for the rights of marginalized communities.