GUWAHATI: The Assam government is setting up a portal through which indigenous people living in “sensitive areas” can apply for arms licences, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday.
The arms license will be granted after proper scrutiny and a multi-layered process, he said.
“A dedicated portal is coming up where indigenous people, who perceive a threat to their lives and reside in sensitive areas, can apply for Arms License,” he said in a post on X, sharing a detailed guideline on who is eligible to apply and the process of application.
The process of granting the license will include security assessment, verification and vetting, compliance with existing laws, non-transferability and periodic review along with monitoring and reporting, according to the post.
The state cabinet on May 28 had decided that arms licences would be given to indigenous people living in “vulnerable and remote” areas to instil a sense of security in them.
The CM had said some of these “vulnerable and remote areas” are Dhubri, Morigaon, Barpeta, Nagaon, South Salmara-Mankachar, Rupahi, Dhing and Jania.
All of these places have large Muslim populations.
