Guns for borderlands: Assam's new firearm portal for 'indigenous' people sparks debate over gang violence

Himanta Biswa Sarma has previously claimed that Assamese-speaking communities are under threat of attacks not only from across the Bangladesh border but also within their own villages

The Assam government, which shares a border with Muslim-majority Bangladesh, is set to issue gun licences to "indigenous" residents, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday.

Sarma has previously claimed that Assamese-speaking communities are under threat of attacks not only from across the Bangladesh border but also within their own villages. Assam, home to around 31 million people, has long been marked by complex ethnic, linguistic, and religious divisions, with violent clashes occurring over the years.

As per the 2011 national census, Muslims — mostly Bengali-speaking — make up about 35% of the state's population, while the remainder are primarily Hindus.

Sarma said that a dedicated website will be launched, allowing “indigenous” residents in sensitive or vulnerable areas to apply for arms licences if they feel their lives are in danger.

He laid out three eligibility conditions for applicants under this scheme: they must be original or indigenous inhabitants of Assam, must perceive a real threat to their safety due to their area of residence, and must live in a region identified as remote or vulnerable by district authorities or security agencies. All applications will go through a security vetting process and, if approved, licences will be subject to regular review and monitoring.

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.

Upon proper scrutiny and after a multi-layered process, Arms License will be granted to individuals. pic.twitter.com/bcVtB04mM9

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 6, 2025

India is known for its stringent gun control laws compared to many other nations. This initiative has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups.

“This decision will escalate gang violence and create opportunities for revenge crimes,” said Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on X (formerly Twitter). “This isn’t governance — it’s a reckless slide toward chaos.”

The move is seen as part of the state government’s broader agenda to promote the interests of the majority Assamese-speaking population. This includes aggressive eviction campaigns targeting those Sarma has labelled as “illegal foreigners or doubtful citizens.”

Assam was the first Indian state to implement the controversial National Register of Citizens (NRC) process in 2019, aimed at verifying citizenship.

Tensions in the region have escalated in recent months, particularly after the fall of Bangladesh’s former authoritarian regime — once an ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP — further fueling concerns in Assam’s border districts. Sarma has said that recent events in Bangladesh have left indigenous communities feeling increasingly insecure.

The gun licence portal is expected to go live later this month. Its launch comes amid reports of vigilante activity — notably from the group Bir Lachit Sena — which has been issuing threats to Bengali-speaking Muslims in Upper Assam, including a recent call for “all Bangladeshis to leave within seven days.”