Guwahati
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been famous for his vocal opinion and strict decisions. Now he has taken another such decision, which is being discussed across the country. Under this, arms licenses will be granted to the original residents of Assam. The Chief Minister says that it is necessary to do so for security. He said that the original Assamese people have to adopt practical methods for safety. The Government of Assam is going to launch a portal for the purpose of providing the facility to apply for arms license to indigenous people living in ‘sensitive areas’. This information was given by Chief Minister Himant Vishwa Sharma on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister said that licenses will be given only after investigation and verification at many levels. Sarma said in a post on ‘X’, ‘A dedicated portal is being prepared, through which such indigenous people will be able to apply for arms license, who feel threatened by their lives and live in sensitive areas.’ According to the Chief Minister, people who are ‘natives or Indian citizens’ of Assam and who due to the sensitivity of their residence area ‘feel real threat to their lives and safety’, they will be eligible for the application.
He said that apart from this, people who reside in ‘highly sensitive or remote areas’ according to the assessment of notified or authorized security agencies by the district administration can also apply for arms license. According to the Chief Minister, the process of issuing the license will include intensive assessment, verification, statutory compliance, non-transferable conditions, time to time review, monitoring and reporting etc.
The state cabinet on May 28 decided that the indigenous people living in the ‘sensitive and remote’ areas would be given arms licenses to generate a sense of security in them. The Chief Minister had said that some such sensitive areas are Dhubri, Morigaon, Barpeta, Nagaon, South Salamara-Mankachar, Rupahi, Ding and Janiya. The Muslim population in these areas is relatively high. The Chief Minister also claimed that since the time of the Assam movement (1979 to 1985), the indigenous people living in these areas have been demanding arms license for their safety. He had said, ‘Assamese people can now ensure their safety not only by the movement, but only by taking practical steps.’
