Statement on the arrest of Indigenous human rights defender Pranab Doley

The International Land Coalition (ILC) Asia Steering Committee expresses its deep concern and unequivocal condemnation of the arrest and detention of Pranab Doley, a respected Indigenous human rights defender from the Mising community in Assam, India, Convener of the Greater Kaziranga Land and Human Rights Protection Committee. Mr. Doley was arrested on 12 July 2026 in connection with his role in supporting Indigenous Peoples and Adivasi communities defending their lands, livelihoods, and territories in the Kaziranga landscape.

According to multiple reports, Mr. Doley's arrest follows his leadership in peaceful community resistance to a proposed luxury tourism development near Kaziranga National Park, a project that has raised serious concerns among Indigenous and Adivasi communities regarding land rights, displacement, environmental impacts, including impacts on wildlife, and the protection of community livelihoods. The arrest also comes amid ongoing legal proceedings concerning the project and community challenges to the acquisition and allocation of land. Reports from local organizations indicate that the allegations detailed in the First Information Report (FIR) do not accurately reflect the events that took place during the community protest and appear to be inconsistent with the peaceful nature of the actions undertaken by community members. In addition to Mr. Doley, five other activists have reportedly been arrested in connection with the case.

The case of Pranab Doley reflects a global trend in which defenders face intimidation and legal persecution for exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and participation in decisions affecting their lands and communities.

The latest ALLIED Hidden Iceberg report compiled data from 75 countries, documenting the killing of 196 Indigenous, land and environmental defenders in 2023–2024, while highlighting that killings represent only the visible tip of a much larger iceberg of less-visible violence. The report records widespread criminalisation, arbitrary detention, judicial harassment, surveillance, intimidation, and digital attacks against defenders. Across the two years, 151 attacks were registered in India and in 2024 alone, arbitrary detention accounted for more than half (51%) of all attacks; 45% of all documented attacks were against Indigenous Peoples.

Indigenous Peoples continue to be disproportionately at risk, despite playing a critical role in safeguarding biodiversity, protecting ecosystems, and advancing climate resilience. Efforts to silence their leaders undermine not only human rights but also sustainable and inclusive development. We are further concerned by reports that community members, human rights defenders, and activists associated with the movement continue to face threats, intimidation, and the risk of further reprisals for their legitimate efforts to defend Indigenous and community land rights.

We therefore call on the Government of India to:

• Immediately and unconditionally release Pranab Doley, the five other arrested activists, and all human rights defenders who have been arbitrarily detained in connection with this case;
• Ensure that his due process rights are fully respected and that he has unhindered access to legal counsel, family members, and medical care;
• Drop any charges that arise solely from the peaceful exercise of fundamental rights and legitimate human rights advocacy;
• Halt the proposed luxury hotel development project in the Kaziranga landscape until all concerns related to Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' land rights, participation, environmental impacts, and free, prior, and informed consent have been fully and transparently addressed;
• End all acts of intimidation, surveillance, harassment, and criminalization against members of the Greater Kaziranga Land and Human Rights Protection Committee and other Indigenous community leaders.
• Respect and protect the collective rights of Indigenous Peoples, including their rights to participate in decisions affecting their lands, territories, and resources; and
• Ensure that development initiatives affecting Indigenous communities are undertaken in accordance with human rights standards and with the free, prior, and informed consent of affected communities.

At a time when Indigenous communities are at the forefront of protecting lands, ecosystems, and cultural heritage, governments must create a safe and enabling environment for defenders, not criminalise them for speaking out.

The ILC Asia Steering Committee stands in solidarity with Pranab Doley, his family, colleagues, and the Indigenous and Adivasi communities he represents.