Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday launched a digital portal, through which indigenous people living in “sensitive areas” can apply for arms licences.
Sarma said the aim of the initiative is to enable responsible citizens to aid and assist the government in maintaining peace and law and order situation in the state.
The chief minister said the licences will be granted after proper scrutiny and a multi-layered process.
The CM said the licences will be granted to those individuals who do not have any criminal antecedents and are mentally stable.
ALSO READ: Union Cabinet approves bill for new Indian Institute of Management in Guwahati
They will also need to take arms training and have to prove why they are vulnerable, he said.
Sarma said the state government “will not give arms but only give licenses under the Indian Arms Act”.
“This is a religious and politically neutral scheme. Licences will be given to people of all communities who are indigenous or original inhabitants, and whose three generations have lived in that area,” he said.
We are concerned about the security of the people who have become a minority due to a demographic invasion, he stated.
He said that there are certain areas where the demography is changing very fast, as people of a certain religion “first come as guests and then start buying lands from the original inhabitants by force, leaving them with no choice but to leave their homes”.
“There are, however, some indigenous people who refuse to leave their land and have been reduced to a minority. This scheme is for these vulnerable people who have bravely stayed on, protecting the land of their ancestors, religion and culture,” he said. He asserted that this “positive scheme” is aimed at instilling a sense of security in “these brave Assamese and Indians”.
He stated that the government is working to empower vulnerable people, emphasizing that their security cannot be compromised.
