NEHR condemns Assam govt for booking land rights activist under NSA

ITANAGAR, 1 Aug: The Northeast Human Rights (NEHR) has strongly condemned the Assam government for booking land rights activist Pranab Doley under the National Security Act (NSA), and demanded his immediate release.

Doley had been arrested previously and had been granted bail on 29 July. However, on 31 July, his father was handed the notice under the NSA, the NEHR said in a release.

“In spite of the bail granted by the local court, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam government has booked Doley under the draconian NSA,” NEHR chairperson Ebo Mili said.

He alleged that the law has become a political tool and is being misused by the central and state governments.

“It (NSA) is similar to Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (APUAPA). Any person can be detained for maximum of upto 12 months under the NSA and 6 months under APUAPA by the state government,” he said.

Mili said since the law does not come under the ambit of the judiciary, bail cannot be granted by the court.

He said that the release of the detainee will be decided by an advisory board, and the members of the board are appointed by the state, making it “basically a puppet of the state government.”

“We stand in solidarity with the Adivasi communities of Kaziranga and will continue to raise our voice against any form of repression and violation of human rights,” he added.