ST panel issues notice over Jarawa video

Concerned over the video footage showing alleged involvement of cops in "human safaris" involving Jarawas, the ST Commission today asked Andaman and Nicobar administration to take action against those involved and submit a report.

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 told PTI in New Delhi.

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.

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 told PTI.