Assam To Issue Arms Licences For Indigenous People In Vulnerable Areas, Online Portal To Roll Out Soon

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday (6 August) said the state government is preparing to launch an online portal where “indigenous people, who perceive threat to their lives and reside in sensitive areas” can apply for arms licences, Indian Express reported.

The move comes two months after the Assam Cabinet approved a scheme to provide arms licences to “indigenous people” in areas where their population is in the minority.

At the time, Sarma had pointed to districts such as Dhubri, Morigaon, Nagaon, Barpeta, and South Salmara, where Bengali-origin Muslims are in the majority, stating that indigenous communities there often “have to confront the question of their security.”

Taking to social media on Wednesday, the Chief Minister listed three eligibility criteria for applicants.

They must be “original inhabitants or indigenous citizens of Assam,” must “perceive a genuine threat to life and safety due to the vulnerability of the area of residence,” and must “reside in a vulnerable or remote area, as notified by the District Administration, or assessed as such by authorized security agencies.”

He further said applications will be subject to security assessment, verification and vetting.

Once granted, licences will be monitored and periodically reviewed, with “monitoring and reporting” mechanisms in place.

The portal is expected to go live later this month, amid rising tensions in parts of the state.

In recent days, a group called Bir Lachit Sena has issued ultimatums to Bengali Muslims in Upper Assam, demanding that “all Bangladeshis leave Upper Assam within seven days.”

Also Read: From Lower To Upper Assam: Sarma Says ‘Demographic Invasion’ Spreading, Evictions Meant To ‘Protect Assamese Constituencies’