Pakistan, Aug. 7 -- In a move that has sparked nationwide debate, India's Assam state government has announced it will offer gun licences to "indigenous" residents living near the Bangladesh border. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the step is aimed at protecting those who feel threatened due to rising insecurity in the region. The decision follows recent tensions in the border districts and is part of a broader campaign to prioritize the rights of Assamese-speaking people.

Assam, a northeastern state with a population of about 31 million, has long dealt with ethnic, linguistic, and religious divisions. Around 35 percent of its people are Bengali-speaking Muslims, while the majority are Hindus. Sarma claims that local communities ...