Concerns Rise Over Illegal Firearms in Northeast India Amid Recent Violence
Urgent Action Needed on Illegal Firearms
Locals carry one of the injured after the firing incident at Ming Mang. (AT Photo)
GUWAHATI, Aug 14: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) must adopt a firm approach regarding the proliferation of illegal firearms among miscreants from neighboring states, as failure to do so may lead to ongoing violence against Assamese citizens, according to official sources.
In light of the recent shooting incident involving Assamese individuals by assailants from Arunachal Pradesh, which resulted in injuries to 11 people, officials noted that such occurrences are not isolated. These types of attacks have persisted for years, primarily instigated by individuals from adjacent regions.
It was highlighted that many residents in neighboring states, especially Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, possess illegal firearms, while Assamese villagers remain unarmed.
The Assam government lacks the authority to address the issue of illegal weapons across state lines, thus placing the onus on the Union Home Ministry to take decisive action, the sources emphasized.
Most interstate borders are flanked by reserve forests, where miscreants from neighboring states attempt to encroach for agricultural purposes. Since Assam's division, individuals from hill states have sought to cultivate land in the plains. Recently, there have been attempts by these miscreants to seize forest land for palm oil cultivation, employing power saws to clear trees in the process. Alarmingly, some encroachers appear to have the covert support of state government officials, exacerbating the situation.
When questioned about the lack of response from Assam's forest or police personnel against these miscreants, sources explained that Assam's forces have been instructed to exercise restraint, noting that local villagers are unarmed.
Assam's forces are permitted to return fire only under extreme circumstances, as any fatalities could lead to significant public outcry. While non-state actors may act with impunity, state forces are required to maintain a level of restraint, the sources concluded.