India, May 28 -- The Assam cabinet on Wednesday approved a special scheme to provide arms licences to indigenous people living in "vulnerable and remote areas" and those along the border with Bangladesh to help them protect themselves.

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the special scheme for the grant of arms licences to original inhabitants and Indian indigenous citizens in vulnerable and remote areas of Assam would apply to districts such as Dhubri, Nagaon, Morigaon, Barpeta, South Salmara and Goalpara.

He clarified that the decision to provide arms licences to the eligible individuals would rest with the district authorities.

"It's a very important and sensitive decision. Indigenous people in these districts live in a sense of...