The Assam government has decided to go online to apply for an arms licence for the indigenous people. By the first week of August, the online portal will be launched, and indigenous people who feel they need arms to protect themselves can apply for it without visiting the District collector’s office. The move has been taken by the BJP-led Assam government, keeping in mind the threat perception to the indigenous people by the aggression of Bangladeshi-origin Muslims in sensitive districts. Talking to the media in Dibrugarh, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “ the situation in Assam is going to be very explosive in near future. But when there is an explosive situation, how the indigenous people will survive or protect themself. Only a licensed arm will protect them at that time.” Replying to the criticism by the opposition Congress party, CM Sarma further said, “ My point is clear, after reclaiming over 40,000 acres of land from the Bangladeshi origin Muslim encroachers the Assamese people have learnt to live without fear and they have to continue it in the near future. Agitation is not the way you get your rights, you have to be practical to survive and Assamese people can survive by only being practical.”, he added. CM Sarma further said, our government has taken several practical steps for a secure future for the Assamese people and will take such steps after winning the election in 2026. We have some goals ahead of us, and we will achieve them within the limits of our Constitution in the shortest possible time.
One can apply for an arms licence in the state even now. But after adding it to the government “Seva Setu” portal it will be easier for people to apply for the arms licence. After the application, the DCs will enquire whether the person is eligible to get it or not, and accordingly, he will be given the arms licence. Earlier, CM Sarma said that the indigenous people of Assam who are residents of districts like Dhubri, Barpeta, and Hailakandi, where they are an absolute minority, are in deep fear and living in a constant threat. But the opposition Congress is very critical of this issue. They blame the BJP government for trying to weaponise the people of the state. It should be mentioned that after the eviction drives in many sensitive areas, the Bangladeshi-origin Muslims have threatened the indigenous people on many occasions. In a viral video, a Mullah was threatening to occupy the land and properties of Assamese people in the next 20 years.
