Assam government to give arms licences to indigenous people living in "vulnerable and remote" areas

The Assam government will give arms licences to indigenous people living in "vulnerable and remote" areas.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on wednesday said that the Assam Cabinet has taken a very important decision to protect the interests of our Jati, Mati, Bheti ((community- land- base). Arms Licenses will be granted to Original Inhabitants and indigenous Indian people living in vulnerable areas to tackle unlawful threats from hostile quarters.

He said that this decision is taken after reviewing the "demand" of the people living in these areas. “Assam is a very different and sensitive state. Assamese people living in some areas have been feeling insecure and they have been demanding arms licences for a long time. The government will be lenient in giving licences to eligible people, who must be original inhabitants and must belong to the indigenous community living in vulnerable and remote areas of the state.


The chief minister said that in Dhubri, Morigaon, Barpeta, Nagaon and South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara districts indigenous people are minority and they suffer from insecurity especially after the developments in neighbouring Bangladesh these people may be targeted from other side of border and even in their village they may be targeted.

He added, “Indigenous people are a small number in these areas. So people from these areas if they seek a license, the government will liberally provide them. This will ensure protection for our people in Dhing, Rupohi and Lahorighat. And Indigenous people from these places will not have to sell their land to move to different places. This move will provide confidence to them.”

He added, “This demand has been there since Assam Agitation (1979-1985) however no government has courage to do this. Had we been given an arm license then several people would not have had to sell their land and move to different places. Lot of people in Darrang and Nagaon during my visit to these places during the campaign of Panchayat polls requested me to provide arms licence or they said they will have to move out of the area.”

He said, “Deputy commissioners will do due diligence like the person should not be a criminal and does not have past records of crimes or criminal cases.”