Assam to issue arms licences to indigenous people living in vulnerable areas

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

The Assam Cabinet has decided to issue arms licences to “eligible” indigenous communities living in remote and vulnerable areas.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma insisted that the approval for granting arms licences was aimed at building confidence among such people facing recurring threats, not to militarise them.

He said the decision was taken given Assam’s geography, sensitivity, and issues related to security.

“We will encourage the original inhabitants and indigenous Indian citizens residing in remote, vulnerable, and border areas to apply for arms licences under the provisions of the Arms Act,” he told journalists after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (May 28, 2025).

Mr. Sarma said the move is part of the State government’s strategy to help the indigenous peoples protect themselves from hostile elements, especially in areas where law enforcers do not have quick access.

He said each application for an arms licence will be processed thoroughly so that the provisions of the law are adhered to. A guideline is expected to be issued to let the eligible people know how and where to apply, along with the verification procedures to prevent misuse.

The Chief Minister did not specify the vulnerable areas, but these are believed to be areas along Assam’s border with Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland, specifically in disputed areas prone to clashes. People along the Assam-Bangladesh border, vulnerable to raids, may also be eligible for arms licences depending on their indigeneity.