On the eve of Independence Day, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday launched a dedicated digital portal allowing indigenous residents of “sensitive areas” to apply for arms licences, a move he described as both a security measure and a gesture of empowerment for communities facing demographic and safety challenges.
“This is a religious and politically neutral scheme. Licences will be given to people of all communities who are indigenous or original inhabitants, and whose three generations have lived in that area,” Sarma said.
He stressed that the government would not supply firearms, but licences would be issued strictly under the Indian Arms Act following a rigorous, multi-layered verification process.
Sarma linked the initiative to concerns over what he termed a “demographic invasion” in certain parts of the state, where the majority population has allegedly been reduced to a minority due to aggressive land purchases by people from “a certain religion.”
He alleged that in some areas, original inhabitants were forced to sell their land under pressure, but that a few “brave” families had resisted and continued to protect their ancestral land, religion, and culture despite being outnumbered.
“This scheme is for these vulnerable people who have bravely stayed on. It is aimed at instilling a sense of security in these brave Assamese and Indians,” he said.
Applicants must have a clean criminal record, be certified mentally fit, undergo arms training, and provide compelling reasons for their vulnerability.
Officials say the scheme will prioritise residents of areas with histories of violence, communal tension, or cross-border criminal activity, especially in border areas.