John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, July 01: A resident of Bamboo Tikrey, Middle Andaman has been arrested by Andaman and Nicobar Police on last Monday for illegally entering inside Jarawa Reserve area of Middle Andaman. Sources said that the accused used to venture inside the Jarawa Tribal area regularly and used to provide them alcohol, tobacco and other edibles in exchange of wild boar, turtle and venison.
According to reports the matter came to the knowledge of AAJVS only when a dinghy of one resident of Kadamtala, Mr. Dilip Roy went missing. For inquiry a team of AAJVS went inside Jarawa area, who were informed by a Jarawa Tribal boy Aape that a resident of Bamboo Tikrey, Mr. Sanjit Mandal had come to their area Lakra Lungta during night hours and gave them a dinghy, which he had stolen from Shantipur Village. The Jarawa boy told AAJVS team that the person Mr. Sanjit Mandal spent night in the Jarawa area and offered alcohol to some Jarawa youths after which next day he returned back to Kadamtala.
Next day an AAJVS team again visited Lakra Lungta area for watch and ward duty and also to provide medical coverage, during which they saw a non tribal sitting near Jarawa area, when the team enquired him, his details, he reportedly told that his name is Sanjit Mandal and after which he fled inside forest out of fear.
During inquiry the AAJVS was told by Jarawa Tribes that the said person repeatedly enters inside Jarawa Tribal Reserve and provide them alcohol, tobacco and other edibles in exchange of wild boar, turtle and venison.
When the matter was communicated to the Police Station Kadamtala, the SHO of PS Kadamtala arrested the said accused under various acts including PAT regulation and Disaster Management Act.
According to many, during the time of Corona Pandemic such intrusion of poachers inside the Jarawa Tribal area and interacting with the tribes could be disastrous.
