Assam CM launches portal where ‘indigenous’ people can seek gun licence

In several instances, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has specifically mentioned areas where Bengali-origin Muslims are in the majority as an example of a “vulnerable” area.

Speaking at the launch of the portal on Thursday about the government’s stated rationale, Sarma said, “If I live near the India-Bangladesh border or an inter-state boundary area, or I live in a vulnerable area where my community’s population is very small… X community is 90-95% of the population and Y is 5%, and culturally, economically, historically, the communities have had tensions. Then a small incident can also trigger a situation where the 95% community can attack the 5% community, burn their houses, various incidents can happen.”

“A police station will have 6-12 constables for reinforcements to come from the district headquarters; it can take two-three hours. In those two-three hours, I will have to defend myself. And if people know that this person or house possesses a firearm, that itself will act as a deterrent,” he said.

He also called it an effort to make citizens “first responders” in law-and-order situations in remote areas.

Who can apply?

The eligibility criteria for the grant of licenses through this portal are that the applicant must be “an indigenous citizen from Assam,” must be at least 21 years old, must reside in a “vulnerable and remote area,” must not have a criminal background or pending cases, must be “physically and mentally fit,” and must have a training certificate under the Arms Rules, 2016.

On the portal, which is part of the Assam government’s citizen digital services portal Sewa Setu, applicants need to attest to an eligibility declaration that they are an “original inhabitant” and that “I reside in a vulnerable or remote area and genuinely perceive a threat to my life and safety due to regional vulnerabilities.”

The portal requires an applicant to specify their identity, providing the broad headings of Scheduled Tribe (Plain), Scheduled Tribe (Hill), Scheduled Caste, Hill Tribes in Plains, Plain Tribe in Hills, Other Backward Classes or Others, and lists the different communities under each heading.

Among other things, they also need to justify their “need for a licence.”

Applicants will need to attest that they have no criminal background or pending case against them, and that they have a safe space to store a firearm. Among the documents they will need to provide digitally are proof of date of birth, identity, residence and caste certificates, firearms training certificate, an undertaking on safe use and storage of arms, medical certificates about their mental health and physical fitness, and Aadhaar card.

Sarma said that the government in various districts will create a list of “accredited” people who can provide training to applicants, giving instances of retired police officers and Army officers.

An arms licence issued through this process will be valid for a period of five years.