Soneshwar Narah and Mr. Pranab Doley

Human Rights Defender

Assam

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on 20^th July regarding the arrest of human rights defender Mr. Soneshwar Narah while addressing a public hearing and false charges against Mr. Pranab Doley by Assam Police.

A Public Hearing was called by the Assam State Pollution Control Board regarding a Bio Ethanol Project of Numaligarh Refinery of Golahat District. Mr. Someswar Narah, Advisor to Jeepal Krishak Sramik Sangha (JKSS) started giving his views on environmental and socio-economic impact of the project in the nearby villages the audio was switched off. He continued despite the disruption and when he tried to demonstrate how the project would affect the fragile ecosystem of the area, as the Kaziranga National Park is just few kilometres away from the project site, police barged into the stage and escorted him off the stage. When he along with other members of JKSS demanded to be allowed to speak and present their view, the police violently pushed him into a police van and detained him in the Numoligarh police outpost. He was produced before the Magistrate and then sent to Golaghat Jail. In the same FIR, complaint was registered against another Advisor to JKSS Mr. Pranab Doley, who was not even present in the Public Hearing.

HRDA prayed for thorough investigation and to take immediate actions on the perpetrators of the case.