Port Blair, Feb 06: The Andaman and Nicobar Police today said that there are possibilities that some foreign NGOs may be in possession of some more old video footages of Jarawa and may selectively release them for sensationalising of Andaman Trunk Road issue.
“They may selectively release these videos with the ulterior aim of putting pressure for closure of Andaman Trunk road, the lifeline of more than one lakh people inhabiting in North and Middle Andaman,” SBS Tyagi the Superintendent of Police of South Andaman District informed media.
The Andaman Trunk Road, connects Port Blair city with North and Middle Andaman and the road cut through the Jarawa Reserve Forests in two areas, which many Jarawa Right Groups find ‘dangerous’ for Jarawa Tribes.
“There is a concerted effort by certain interests to pressurise the Govt. of India for the closure of the Andaman Trunk Road without fully appreciating the inherent issues,” the SP said.
The statement came from the side of Andaman and Nicobar police after Observer, a London based newspaper, published details of two new videos of alleged ‘Human Safari’ in Andamans.
“Administration has already stated that irrespective of the vintage of the video footage of Jarawa tribes taken by some unscrupulous and mischievous elements is highly deplorable and a condemnable act. The Administration has also warned the tour operators to desist from promoting the Jarawa Tourism on their websites and any violations of Jarawa Policy will be strictly dealt with. A committee had already been put in place by the Govt. of India to formulate a comprehensive policy to address the Jarawa tribal issues with the ATR angle,” the SP Said.
He said that the administration had already informed that it has left no stone unturned to protect the interests of the Jarawas and other vulnerable tribes.
“Since then, two persons have already been arrested in the earlier case and the investigation is in progress. Irrespective of the rank and service of the government officials involved or found colluding, the administration is committed to identify and take stringent action against them,” the SP said.
The 330 Kms -long Andaman Trunk Road serves a vital communication link of North and Middle Andamans and of its settlements; 56 kms of this road passes through the Jarawa Reserve.
“This Administration has progressively restricted the number of convoys passing through this reserve and have ensured that these convoys are properly escorted by the police to minimise contact with the Jarawas, who otherwise freely move within their Reserve areas and even beyond,” Tyagi added.
In 2011, for the first time, actual number of Jarawa population has gone up by 40% in the last ten years from 240 in 2000 to 383 in 2011. There are 141 children below 10 years, and 99 in the age group of 11 to 20 years.
“The Administration has carefully addressed over 1500 medical requirements of Jarawas, as and when sought by themselves, with exclusive wards dedicated to them in the Hospital and Primary Health Centres. The present policy of their protection and preservation is being implemented strictly,” the SP added.
Besides Jarawas, there are five more vulnerable tribes living in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, out of which the largest tribe of Nicobarese, numbering around 30,000, have already joined the mainstream and are doing extremely well in all walks of life.
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