John Wilbert
Port Blair, Feb 08: Gone are those days when Jarawa tribes used to request for food and other stuffs in Andaman Trunk Road today several reports are pouring in, where Jarawa Tribes are forcefully stopping Cars of ATR convoy, inside Jarawa Tribal Reserve and they are forcefully taking away purse and other important belongings of people.
Recently on 3rd February, when a tourist family was going towards Baratang to see limestone caves, after nearly 30 KM, from the Jirkatang Check Post, nearly 8-9 Jarawa men and women, stopped an Omni Vehicle, which was just infront of the tourist vehicle.
When the driver of the Omni van refused to open the glasses the Jarawa men broke one of the glasses of the Omni.
When Jarawa people reached to the tourist vehicle and asked to open doors showing weapons, afraid of the situation, the driver opened the glass and taking advantage of this, one of the Jarawa man took a lady’s purse and run away inside the forest. Others asked the vehicle driver to leave the place, showing arrows and spears.
When tourist reported about this matter at Middle Strait Jarawa Outpost, the police men at the Outpost, assured them that staffs of Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS) will get their belongings backs but after the nearly three days, the tourist got only a few items while other important items like Rs. 6000 cash, ID Card and Golden nose ring are still missing.
Such kind of incidents are reportedly increasing every day but most of the cases are not reported because the drivers do not report such matter out of fear. This is because in any case Administration takes actions more on the cab drivers.
Some people have also reported that one Jarawa man and women wears Gold Chain, which were also supposed to be stolen from some passengers.
Andaman Sheekha had earlier also reported about this matter but no action has been taken by the Tribal Welfare Department yet in this regard.
In fact Andaman Sheekha was told by the AAJVS they have no information in this regard.
Today also when Andaman Sheekha tried to contact the Secretary of Tribal Welfare, it was informed to Andaman Sheekha that the Secretary is out of station. Sadly no other offices were available for a comment in this regard.
This shows how bad is the situation on the ground level and this also shows that situation is going out of control. This won’t be shocking if tomorrow there is a bigger incident inside the Jarawa Tribal Reserve. Cab drivers are now demanding more Police and AAJVS guard on ATR for their safety and also for the safety of locals and tourists.
