Guwahati: The Axom Nagarik Xanmilan has welcomed the Gauhati High Court’s decision to quash the detention of activist Pranab Doley under the National Security Act (NSA), alleging that law-enforcement authorities had acted arbitrarily by violating legal provisions.
In a statement issued in Guwahati on November 11, the organisation described the court’s decision as heartening and raised concerns over the use of stringent laws against people participating in protests.
According to the statement, Doley had led a peaceful agitation by a section of Adivasi people opposing the alleged forcible acquisition of their land for the construction of a five-star hotel near Kaziranga National Park.
The organisation maintained that Doley had not engaged in any activity warranting detention under the NSA. It described him as an activist who had consistently raised the concerns of marginalised communities and supported their struggle for rights.
The statement also alleged a growing pattern of authorities using stringent laws to harass and detain people protesting against government policies and decisions.
“Whenever people protest against the authorities’ anti-people policies and measures, they are harassed and detained under such draconian laws,” the organisation said.
Strongly condemning what it termed arbitrary police action, Axom Nagarik Xanmilan said such measures were intended to silence legitimate protests and discourage citizens from asserting their rights.
The statement was issued jointly by Hiren Gohain, Harekrishna Deka, Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, Paresh Malakar, Santanu Borthakur and Abdul Mannan on behalf of Axom Nagarik Xanmilan.