Assam to give arms licence to indigenous citizens living in Muslim majority areas with Bangladesh roots

Himanta Biswa Sarma

The Assam Cabinet has approved a new scheme to allow original inhabitants and indigenous citizens of India living in ‘vulnerable and remote’ areas near the Bangladesh border to get arms licences. These areas mostly have a large population of people with roots in Bangladesh, and the local indigenous communities often feel unsafe.

The #AssamCabinet has today taken a very important decision to protect the interests of our Jati, Mati, Bheti.Arms Licenses will be granted to Original Inhabitants and indigenous Indian people living in vulnerable areas to tackle unlawful threats from hostile quarters. pic.twitter.com/a29M67uekV

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Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 28, 2025

The cabinet said that this step is meant to help these people protect themselves from possible threats either from within their villages or from across the border, The Times of India reported.

According to the Assam government, this decision will help stop illegal threats and give the indigenous people more confidence and security.

"This is an important and a sensitive decision. In districts like Dhubri, Nagaon, Morigaon, Barpeta, South Salmara and Mankachar, Goalpara districts (where Bangladesh-origin Muslims are in majority), indigenous people are in a minority constantly face insecurity, especially in the wake of recent developments in Bangladesh. These indigenous population can become victims of attacks from Bangladesh or from within their own villages," Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Sarma added that the move reflects the BJP’s commitment to protecting the "jati, mati aru bheti"—the identity, land, and home—of Assam’s indigenous people. The government will make it easier for eligible people to get licences, but they must be indigenous and living in areas marked as vulnerable.

He said this is a demand for a long time, since 1985, but no govt has dared to take this decision. "Had we taken this decision then, the indigenous people would not have sold their land in these areas and left," Sarma added.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that fears have increased recently because the government is working to deport illegal Bangladeshi nationals. Areas that may be marked as vulnerable include parts of Guwahati, such as Hatigaon.