Assam CM Launches Online Portal for Indigenous Residents to Apply for Arms Licences

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday launched an online portal through which indigenous people living in "sensitive areas" can apply for arms licences. According to the Chief Minister, the aim of the initiative is to make people living in vulnerable areas or along the border have a sense of security.

CM Sarma said that the arms licences would only be granted after proper scrutiny through a multi-layered process. People notified by the district administration or assessed as vulnerable by authorised security agencies will be eligible for acquiring an arms licence, he said. Additionally, only those who do not have any criminal antecedents and are mentally stable can apply for the arms licences.

"This state has several vulnerable areas, particularly border areas. Many times, the citizens of border areas face security issues. Due to prolonged insurgency, we are very restricted in terms of gun licences, but now there is almost no insurgency left, and the crime situation has improved. So we have decided to have online registration of guns," CM Sarma said.

Calling it a "religious neutral scheme", he added, "One has to be indigenous and an original inhabitant. Anyone whose three generations have stayed in India will be considered for this." Government sources have indicated that Barpeta, Dhing, Dhubri, Jania, Morigaon, Nagaon, Rupahi, and South Salmara-Mankachar are some of the "vulnerable and remote areas".

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