Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that the state government will begin issuing firearm licences to indigenous people living in “vulnerable and remote” areas from February 2026. The decision, aimed at strengthening local security, will cover districts such as Dhubri, Morigaon, Barpeta, Nagaon, and South Salmara-Mankachar, along with localities like Rupahi, Dhing, and Jania.
Speaking at a press conference after a cabinet meeting, Sarma said the move would be implemented selectively. “We have received a lot of applications for firearm licences from indigenous people. The government will issue them very carefully,” he said. The cabinet had earlier, on May 28, approved the policy to allow firearm licences for residents of vulnerable regions.
The Chief Minister also highlighted what he described as an “economic shift” in the state, stating that sections of the Muslim population are becoming more prosperous, leading to changes in land ownership patterns. “The sale of land from Hindus to Muslims is very high, while the reverse is much less. That is why land transactions now require prior government permission,” Sarma said, clarifying that the move was not targeted at any community.
He further announced that the state cabinet has approved the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, which will be tabled in the assembly on November 25. The proposed law seeks to ban polygamy, making the offence cognisable and non-bailable, with a punishment of up to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment.
However, the Bill will not apply to Scheduled Tribe populations and areas under the Sixth Schedule such as the Bodoland Territorial Region, Dima Hasao, and Karbi Anglong. “If a Muslim has been living in a Sixth Schedule area prior to 2005, he will also be exempted,” Sarma clarified.
The government also plans to establish a compensation fund to support women affected by polygamy. “We will ensure that no woman faces hardship due to this practice,” Sarma said, adding that detailed rules regarding compensation and children’s welfare will follow the Bill’s passage.
The new legislation will take effect upon notification after approval by the assembly and will not be applied retrospectively. Sarma said he would later hold a separate briefing to share data on the state’s demographic and economic trends, remarking, “You can sometimes accept demographic change, but witnessing an economic shift signals complete destruction.”
