Guwahati, May 28: In a controversial and politically charged move, the Assam Cabinet has approved a scheme to issue arms licenses to indigenous residents in districts identified as vulnerable and minority-dominated. The decision, aimed at bolstering self-defence among original inhabitants, was announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Sarma stated that the scheme, titled Special Scheme for Grant of Arms Licenses, will cover indigenous Indian citizens residing in remote and vulnerable regions, particularly areas with significant populations of Bangladeshi-origin Muslims. These include parts of Nagaon, Morigaon, Dhubri, Barpeta, South Salmara-Mankachar, and Goalpara.
“People in these areas have long faced threats to their safety and property,” said Sarma. “There is growing concern, especially after recent developments in Bangladesh, that these communities could be targeted. This measure will allow law-abiding, indigenous citizens to defend themselves and safeguard their land.”
According to the Chief Minister, the move is a response to longstanding demands from local populations who say they have been forced to sell land and abandon ancestral homes due to ongoing insecurity. “This has been a public demand since the days of the Assam Agitation,” Sarma said. “No government had the political will to take this step — we are doing it now.”
Eligibility will be strictly monitored, he assured. Licenses will only be issued to individuals with no criminal background. District Commissioners (DCs) will be responsible for identifying vulnerable zones and processing applications accordingly.
“This step aligns with the BJP’s broader vision to protect Jati (community), Mati (land), and Bheti (roots),” Sarma added. “If we don’t act now, we risk losing our cultural and geographic integrity.”
In addition to the arms license scheme, the Assam Cabinet made several other key decisions including the renaming of Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati after Olympian Bhogeswar Baruah.
The cabinet also decided to rename the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) after former Chief Minister Golap Borborah and Mangaldoi District Stadium after Dorongi Raja Dharma Narayan.
The Cabinet also approved a major renewable energy project: a 900 MW power facility to be set up by Greenco Energy in Dharakuchi, West Karbi Anglong district, under the Advantage Assam 2.0 initiative. With an investment of ₹6,000 crore, the project aims to boost the state’s power infrastructure.
