Port Blair, Jan. 20: It was in the intervening night of 18^th – 19^th Jan. 2012 when nine male members of the Jarawa tribe attacked the villagers of Tushnabad. They stole whatever they could and threatened to chop the villagers’ head if they called the police. The statement comes from Mohan Halder, Pradhan of Tushnabad Panchayat.

“We have reported the matter to the Assistant Commissioner, Tribal Welfare and demanded his intervention”, Mohan tells the media during a press conference called by the Member of Parliament today evening.

The Jarawa travelled upto Templemeo and Manpur (villages in the panchayat) and looted many households. They stole 3 pieces of Sarees, 5 pieces of Shirts, 4 pieces of Pants, Children’s clothes, Towel, Dao, Phatu, Kulhari, Midi, Salwar, Maxi etc. he claimed.

“I have recorded the statements of the victims in my mobile phone and if the media wants it, I can share it with you”, the Pradhan said.

Adding to the Jarawa attack story, Mohan Halder briefed the media that on 12^th of Jan. 2012 they had called an emergency gram sabha in the presence of The Assistant Commissioner, Tribal Welfare, Director of Anthropological Survey of India, and an Anthropologist from (ASI).

We demanded of cancellation of Buffer Zone Notification and advised to restrict the Buffer Zone beyond the Panchayat area. We also demanded for compensation for the Jarawa attacks and suggested that the Jarawa should civilize them, educate them and make them like the Nicobarese. We also placed a demand to lift restrictions imposed (reserve area) in the sea, Mohan explains.

We also raised the issue wherein 15 village youth were booked under PAT regulation on 7^th Jan. 2012. How can the Police arrest our villagers when there is no demarcation to identify Buffer Zone, the Pradhan questioned.

The 15 villagers were arrested from Hiren Tikrey (Jarawa Reserve area) while the police was on patrolling. On being asked as to why the youth had ventured into the restricted Jarawa area, Mohan preferred not to answer. And to the question reports received by the media that the youth had gone to celebrate new year in the Jarawa Reserve, the Pradhan had no idea.

Port Blair, Jan. 20:  The Hon’ble Union Home Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram is scheduled to visit the islands from January 21 to 23, 2012.

Soon after arrival on January 21, 2012, the Union Home Minister will visit the National Memorial Cellular Jail where he would be accorded Guard of Honour. He will then lay wreath at the Martyrs’ Column in the precincts of the memorial and also visit the museum galleries and thereafter the Ross Island. He will be visiting the Prothrapur Community Hall at 1410 hours for distribution of NPR Cards to the villagers of Prothrapur. The other programmes for the day includes meeting with officers of A&N Administration and Presentation on Economic Perspective and Security issues of A&N Islands, meeting with representatives of political parties, Chairperson PBMC, Adhyaksh, Zilla Parishad (N&M) at Raj Niwas from 1630 hours to 1730 hours besides meeting with the Congress workers at Gandhi Bhawan and witnessing the Sound and Light Show at the National Memorial Cellular Jail.

On January 22, 2012, the Union Home Minister will visit the Tsunami Memorial at Big Lapathy, Car Nicobar Coconut Mission plot at Small Lapathy, Permanent Tsunami Shelter at Tamaloo and meeting with Tribal Council Members at the community hall, Perka in Car Nicobar. On his return from Car Nicobar the Union Home Minister will be meeting with Fishermen and Craftsmen of Andamans and representative of Ex-servicemen Settlers of Campbell Bay and visitor’s appointment at Raj Niwas from 1600 to 1800 hours followed by meeting with Tribals (Andamanese) Govt. Employees of A&N Police/Administration and Teachers and Govt. officials associated with Jarawa Tribe etc at Raj Niwas. He will address a press meet at Raj Niwas at 1900 hours.

Before leaving for mainland on completion of his visit to the islands, the Union Home Minister will visit Sipighat to see the submerged lands and drive along the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) before returning.