Indigenous Activist Arrested in India During Protests Against Hyatt Hotel Project

• Indian police have arrested prominent Indigenous rights activist Pranab Doley and two others.
• Doley has been leading a campaign against the construction of a five-star Hyatt hotel near Kaziranga National Park.

The Arrest

• Police surrounded the residence where Doley was staying on Sunday and took him into custody without an arrest warrant.
• Doley, a member of the Mising Indigenous group, condemned the lack of a warrant and questioned the state of democracy in India during the arrest.
• Two additional men involved in the campaign surrendered to the court following police efforts to locate them.

Background and Context

• Doley’s advocacy focuses on Indigenous land rights and opposition to conservation-related human rights abuses.
• Kaziranga National Park has a history of violence against Indigenous people who were displaced from the area.
• The park is known for its long-standing "shoot on sight" policy, which has been linked to the deaths of dozens of local residents over the years.