CM Himanta’s Assam arms scheme off to cautious start, 266 applications, zero approvals

More than a month after the Assam government launched a controversial scheme allowing “indigenous citizens” in the state’s vulnerable and remote areas to apply for firearms, the initiative is off to a tentative start. As of September 20, 266 applications have been submitted through the online portal, but none have been approved, while 28 were rejected.

The majority of applications — over three-fourths — come from the Muslim-majority districts of Nagaon and Dhubri. Nagaon alone accounts for 156 applications, or 65% of the total, while Dhubri submitted 37.

The scheme, approved by the Assam cabinet in May, was promoted by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as a way to empower residents to defend themselves against “demographic and security challenges.” Sarma has repeatedly highlighted areas where Bengali-origin Muslims form the majority, raising questions about the demographic undercurrent of the initiative.

Applications require the applicant to be at least 21 years old, an “indigenous citizen,” a resident of a vulnerable area, free of criminal cases, physically and mentally fit, and trained under the Arms Rules, 2016. Applicants must also declare that they “genuinely perceive a threat to my life and safety due to regional vulnerabilities.”

Despite the flood of applications, officials are proceeding with caution. Nagaon District Collector Devashish Sharma told The Indian Express that the administration has not yet forwarded any applications to the police for verification. Instead, he is personally counseling applicants, emphasizing that firearm ownership is more a liability than an asset.

“Most applicants are between 25 and 40 years old,” Sharma said. “In many cases, spouses have approached us asking that licences not be issued to their husbands. We are carefully assessing vulnerability before involving the police.”

Some applications from Goalpara district were rejected for failing to meet the threat perception criteria. Officials emphasize that licences will only be granted to those with verifiable grounds for danger.

The backdrop of the scheme includes repeated election-related violence in Nagaon, particularly in Bengali-Muslim dominated areas. Last month, a clash between a Bengali-Muslim man and an Assamese Hindu in Nagaon town sparked public outrage and prompted the government to rename the location where it occurred.

Nagaon BJP president Ranjit Bordoloi argued such incidents justify the scheme, saying residents, especially minorities, feel the need to protect themselves. However, Minatul Islam, general secretary of the All Assam Minority Students’ Union, called the high number of applications “surprising,” noting that past violence occurred mainly within minority communities themselves and not along communal lines.

The 90-day processing period for applications means the first approvals under Himanta’s arms initiative could come in the weeks ahead, but officials insist the emphasis will remain on caution and careful evaluation rather than rapid licensing.