India, Aug. 14 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Assam on Thursday launched a digital portal to allow indigenous people of the state, residing in 'vulnerable or remote areas', to apply for and secure arms licences easily for self-defence.

"The new move will allow indigenous and permanent residents of the state residing in vulnerable, remote and border areas, who face insecurity to their lives due to various threats, to apply and get arms licence online without visiting government offices," chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated while launching the scheme in Guwahati.

The state cabinet had approved the initiative on May 28.

While earlier it was stated that the scheme would be applicable in Muslim majority districts and ...