Assam launches portal for indigenous arms licences in sensitive areas

The Assam government is introducing an online portal that will allow indigenous residents living in “sensitive” or “vulnerable” areas of the state to apply for arms licences, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday.
Sharing details on X, Sarma said the decision is aimed at addressing security concerns among original inhabitants who perceive threats to their lives due to the sensitivity of their area of residence. “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,” he wrote.According to the guidelines, only “original inhabitants or Indigenous Indian citizens of Assam” residing in districts or zones declared vulnerable, remote or sensitive by respective district administrations or classified so by security agencies will be eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate a genuine threat to their life or safety based on the area’s vulnerability.

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

According to information,the application process will involve thorough security assessment, background verification, vetting by multiple agencies, and compliance with the Arms Act and other relevant laws. Once issued, the arms licence will be non-transferable and subject to periodic review, monitoring and reporting.
The move follows a state cabinet decision on May 28 to allow arms licences for indigenous residents of sensitive areas to “instil a sense of security” among them. Sarma had earlier identified districts such as Dhubri, Morigaon, Barpeta, Nagaon, South Salmara–Mankachar, Rupahi, Dhing and Jania — which have substantial Muslim populations — as some of the areas where such licences may be issued, citing longstanding demands from Assamese people dating back to the Assam Agitation era (1979–1985).
The chief minister asserted that while agitation had been symbolic in the past, “practical steps” were now needed to safeguard indigenous Assamese communities living in areas where they feel demographically or physically threatened.