Assam Land Rights Groups Call for Protests Over Activist Arrests

Guwahati: A coalition of indigenous groups met Thursday at Lakhiram Barua Sadan in Guwahati to demand the release of jailed land rights activists. The group announced a statewide protest scheduled for July 26. These arrests target those fighting for indigenous land rights.

The Bhumi Adhikar Joutha Sangram Samiti, Nikhil Rabha Jatiya Parishad, All Tiwa Students’ Association, and the United Tribal Co-ordination Forum organized the event. Attendees condemned the recent detention of Pranab Doley, Adit Chandra Rabha, Amit Nag, Bijit Kutum, Bhaskar Saikia, and Rajeev Pegu. Supporters claim the state jailed them to crush opposition against development projects. "The action was aimed at suppressing democratic protests over land rights and rights of indigenous people," the group alleged.

Senior figures led the meeting, including advocate Santanu Borthakur, Babul Chandra Rabha, Biman Machreng, and Litsong Rongphar. Subrata Talukdar detailed the goals of the assembly, which drew participants from Rabha Hasong, Jagiroad, Ukiam, and Kaziranga. Political leaders from the AJP, Raijor Dal, Congress, APHLC, CPI, and CPI(ML) joined the ranks, while a note from former Rajya Sabha member Ajit Kumar Bhuyan expressed solidarity.

Critics argue the government plans to hand indigenous land over to corporate interests. To push back, the coalition will send a delegation to Ingle Pathar in Kaziranga. They are urging all citizens to join the July 26 demonstrations.