Baffling statistics: 19,145 individuals hold licensed arms in Assam

LICENSED ARMS

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: With the surrender of most of the rebel groups, Assam is comparatively more peaceful now. Running counter to this – as many as 19,145 individuals in the state hold licensed arms.

A comparatively peaceful district, Nagaon topped the list with 3,422 individuals holding licensed arms. Some officials of banks, the Forest Department, the Health Department, the Education Department, ONGC, IOC, the judiciary have also got arms licences. In this category also, Nagaon and Lakhimpur top the list.

According to Home Department sources, the following Nagaon are Golaghat with 2652 arms licences, Dima Hasao with 2050, Dhubri 1284, Darrang 1141, etc.

Several retired politicians and officials also have arms licences and PSOs (personal security officials). Long after their retirement, the threat perception on them is very much under question.

From the bottom, one finds only one arms licence holder in South Salmara, ten in Bajali, 38 in Kamrup (M), 42 in Jorhat and 57 in Baksa. Not a single official has an arms licence in five districts – Majuli, Morigaon, Hailakandi, South Salmara and Chirang.

According to sources, an SP-level committee in each district decides who should get arms licences based on the threat perception of individual applicants. An individual has to apply for an arms licence citing various reasons, say threats to his life. The committee studies the threat perception right from the ground level and takes decisions only when convinced.

The moot point is – what kind of threat perception may prevail in a district like Nagaon where as many as 3,422 individuals have got licensed arms? Sharply contrast to this, only 38 individuals got arms licences in the Kamrup (M) district.

Sources say that some people keep licensed arms as a status symbol. Some influential people, on the other hand, influence the SP-level committee to get arms licences.

A top police official said, "When we reject the plea for arms licence of an individual, the entire blame comes on us if anything happens to him. It makes us adopt the tightrope walk that may, sometimes, lead us to allow an individual whose threat perception is quite negligible to get licensed arms."

It augurs well for the government to review the threat perceptions that the licensed arms holders have.

Also Read: 94 licensed arms users in Nalbari district: CM Himanta

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