Assam to arm indigenous residents in Muslim-dominated areas to ‘protect land and life’

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 28, 2025

The Assam government has announced a new policy to issue arms licenses to indigenous citizens living in what it calls “vulnerable and remote” districts, predominantly those with large populations of Bangladeshi-origin Muslims. The move, described by critics as divisive and by supporters as long overdue, was approved by the state Cabinet on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Special Scheme for Grant of Arms Licenses aims to empower indigenous communities to defend themselves against perceived threats to their lives, land, and identity. The scheme will be implemented in select areas of Nagaon, Morigaon, Dhubri, Barpeta, South Salmara-Mankachar, and Goalpara.

“For decades, indigenous people in these regions have lived under constant fear,” Sarma told reporters. “This decision comes after years of petitions and rising concern following incidents across the border in Bangladesh. If we don’t act now, these communities may lose both security and land.”

Sarma claimed that insecurity has driven many indigenous residents to sell land and migrate from their ancestral villages. “Had this been done earlier, perhaps they wouldn’t have been forced to give up their homes,” he added.

Only individuals with clean criminal records will be eligible; District Commissioners will be tasked with identifying vulnerable zones and vetting applications. The government insists that the process will be tightly controlled to prevent misuse.

The Chief Minister also tied the initiative to the BJP’s larger political vision: “This is about safeguarding Jati, Mati, Bheti — our people, our land, our roots.”

However, the announcement has already sparked debate, with critics warning it could deepen communal divides and lead to tension in mixed-population areas. Human rights groups are expected to question the policy’s implications for social harmony and law enforcement.

In the same meeting, the Assam Cabinet approved several symbolic and developmental measures:

Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati will be renamed in honor of Olympian Bhogeswar Baruah.

State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) will now bear the name of former Chief Minister Golap Borborah.

Mangaldoi District Stadium will be renamed after Dorongi Raja Dharma Narayan.

On the development front, the government approved a Rs 6,000 crore investment by Greenco Energy for a 900 MW hydroelectric power plant in Dharakuchi, West Karbi Anglong district. The project, part of Advantage Assam 2.0, is expected to significantly boost the state’s renewable energy capacity.