New Delhi: Expressing concern over the video
footage showing alleged involvement of cops in "human safaris"
involving Jarawas, the Scheduled Tribes Commission on Monday asked
Andaman and Nicobar administration to take action against
those involved and submit a report at the earliest.
Issuing a notice to the Union Territory administration,
the NCST has sought a reply on action taken by it to protect
the members of the primitive tribe from exploitation as
directed by the Calcutta High Court and act against the
culprits shown in the footage where tribals were made to dance
for food.
"There is a High Court order to protect Jarawas from
exploitation. We have sought a reply from the administration
there on steps taken to enforce that order. We have also asked
them to identify the culprits shown in the footage and take
necessary action against them," NCST Chairman Rameshwar Oraon
said here.
He said the Calcutta High Court, which has jurisdiction
over the island territory, had given an order directing the
administration to take steps to protect Jarawas from
encroachment and contact.
The High Court order came after a Public Interest
Litigation (PIL) was filed citing the negative impact of
Andaman Trunk Road (ATR), which passes through the forest
reserve inhabited by Jarawas.
Meanwhile, government is also exploring the possibility of
having an alternate connectivity with the Great Nicobar
island, through sea and aerial route, if the ATR is closed
down.
"The problem inside is the ATR which joins Port Blair
with the Greater Nicobar, it passes through that area. If ATR
is closed, then the alternate routes will be the sea and
aerial route," Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo
said.
PTI
First Published: Monday, February 06, 2012, 19:50