Latest news with #Bangladesh-origin
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Business Standard
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Assam approves arms licences for indigenous people near Bangladesh border
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday (May 29) clarified that Assam's new arms licence policy will not apply to areas bordering Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. These regions, though historically involved in border disputes with Assam, are not considered vulnerable in terms of national security, he said. 'There were some queries regarding whether the arms license policy would also apply to inter-state border areas such as those shared with Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland,' Sarma posted on X. 'Let us clarify: Assam has always maintained that inter-state border issues are matters that can and should be resolved through mutual understanding and trust. We do not view these regions as vulnerable in the context of national security threats. Accordingly, the arms license policy will not be applicable to the inter-State border areas of Assam,' he added. He further stated, 'The Government of Assam firmly believes that inter-state boundary issues are not security vulnerabilities, but matters best resolved through understanding and peaceful negotiation.' New arms licence scheme for vulnerable areas near Bangladesh border The Assam Cabinet on Wednesday approved a scheme to issue arms licences to 'original inhabitants and indigenous communities' living in 'vulnerable and remote' areas near the Bangladesh border. These districts include Dhubri, Nagaon, Morigaon, Barpeta, Goalpara, and South Salmara-Mankachar, where Muslims of Bangladesh origin form the majority and indigenous populations are in the minority. 'This is an important and a sensitive decision,' Sarma told journalists. 'In districts like Dhubri, Nagaon, Morigaon, Barpeta, South Salmara and Mankachar, Goalpara districts (where Bangladesh-origin Muslims are in majority), indigenous people are in a minority [and] constantly face insecurity, especially in the wake of recent developments in Bangladesh. These indigenous populations can become victims of attacks from Bangladesh or from within their own villages.' He added, 'The Cabinet decision is important and sensitive. The indigenous people in these districts live in an atmosphere of insecurity due to the recent developments in Bangladesh. They face the threat of attacks from the Bangladesh side and even in their own villages.' Scheme aims to boost safety The Cabinet note mentioned that the policy aims to act as a deterrent to unlawful threats and improve the personal safety and confidence of the indigenous communities. Sarma said, 'The government will be lenient in providing arms licences to eligible people, who must be original inhabitants and belong to indigenous communities. The government will not help such people living in vulnerable areas buy arms.' He stressed that the policy is not aimed at militarising civilians but to address a long-standing demand. 'This has been a demand for a long time, since 1985, but no government has dared to take this decision. Had we taken this decision then, the indigenous people would not have sold their land in these areas and left,' he said. He also said, 'The government will identify the vulnerable areas where we will grant arms licences to the indigenous people in a liberal manner. Areas like Hatigaon in Guwahati may also be marked as a vulnerable area.' The Chief Minister linked the move to the BJP's pledge to protect the 'jati, mati aru bheti' (identity, land, and homeland) of Assam's indigenous people. 'The government is providing protection to the indigenous people and this arms licence will give them additional protection,' he added. The scheme is expected to come into effect within 24 hours of notification. Opposition slams arms policy Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev, from Barak Valley, strongly criticised the decision. She argued that the policy reflects poorly on the credibility of the Assam government and questions the ability of the Border Security Force and state police to maintain law and order. She said, 'The government can issue an arms licence, but cannot tell someone what he can or cannot use a gun for. Once a person gets a gun, he can use it against anybody.' Dev also questioned the vague criteria for defining who qualifies as indigenous. 'Lastly, till today, nobody knows the proper definition of indigenous people. It is the Chief Minister of Assam who wakes up in the morning and decides who's indigenous and who's not. The NRC [National Register of Citizens] is in a hanging position. This issue has been raked up only because elections are round the corner.'
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Assam to conduct caste census of seven native Muslim communities
1 2 Guwahati: Ahead of the proposed nationwide caste census, Assam has initiated preparatory measures to conduct a comprehensive caste census of seven native Muslim communities of the state to distinguish them from Bangladesh-origin immigrant Muslim Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday took to X announcing the govt's commitment to addressing the long-standing demand of these proposed caste enumeration aims to document and distinguish the Goria, Moria, Deshi, Syed, and Jolha (Julha) Muslims of the Brahmaputra Valley, along with the Kiren and Maimal Muslims of the Barak wrote that these seven communities have consistently maintained that while Islam is their religion, they also possess unique ethnic, linguistic, and cultural traits that clearly differentiate them from migrant-origin or non-indigenous Muslim added that the indigenous Muslim communities of Assam have long advocated for a caste-based census to assert their distinct socio-cultural identities. "These communities have preserved distinct traditions, dialects, and historical narratives that are deeply rooted in Assam's civilizational heritage and cultural landscape," Sarma said."The caste census is expected to fulfill their decades-old aspiration for formal recognition of their independent identity—distinct from broader religious classifications and migratory groupings," Sarma a significant move last year, the state cabinet recognized the Assamese-speaking Muslims from these seven communities as " indigenous Assamese Muslims " and a sub-group of the greater Assamese community, acknowledging their lack of migration history from either erstwhile East Pakistan or present-day the indigenous Muslims are estimated to constitute approximately 37% of the state's Islamic population, the immigrant Bengali-speaking Muslims account for the remaining 63%. This caste census initiative is a testament to the state's commitment to recognizing and preserving the rich diversity within its proposed caste enumeration in the upcoming national census is expected to be a milestone in the journey of these indigenous Muslim communities, providing them with formal recognition and a platform to celebrate their unique identities. It is a positive step towards fostering inclusivity, promoting cultural preservation, and ensuring that the voices of these communities are heard and their contributions to Assam's vibrant tapestry are acknowledged and celebrated.
NDTV
03-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
2 Bangladesh-Origin US Nationals Deported From Mizoram Over Alleged Links With CHT Insurgents: Sources
Aizawl/New Delhi: Two Bangladesh-origin US nationals were arrested in Mizoram's Lengpui airport on Saturday and deported from the state capital Aizawl after it was learnt that they planned to meet militants of the KNA/F, top sources in the northeast state told NDTV. Intelligence reports indicated four US nationals would be coming to Aizawl using tourist visas on May 2, sources said. While two of them were identified as Chekun and Saron, the names of the other two are not known, sources said. After reaching Aizawl, they planned to meet KNA/F leaders including Nathan Lawncheo Bawm, sources said. Mr Bawm, whose whereabouts are unknown, is the founder of the Kuki-Chin National Front and its armed wing, the Kuki-Chin National Army, active in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). From Aizawl, the four planned to move to Lawangtlai district and visit Bawm community refugee camps in the border areas, sources said. At least two Bangladesh-origin US nationals had played a key role in raising the Kuki-Chin National Front in CHT during its nascent stage, sources said. Since they continue to support subversive activities in the border areas, the authorities received information to take appropriate and timely action on the matter, sources said. The Kuki-Chin National Front has been allegedly using acronyms such as 'KNA' to confuse people; they have started using KNF/A in recent times, sources said.
