Andaman media sends 14 intruders behind bars

Port Blair, Sep 15 (UNI) Getting a tip-off from local media, Andaman and Nicobar Police have arrested 14 people for intruding into the prohibited reserve of Jarawa-- the stone age Indian tribe, police said today.

"An inquiry was initiated by the local police after a news report of intrusion by some persons in the prohibited area appeared in a section of the media which revealed that the facts were true and they have entered into the Jarawa territory without valid pass issued by the competent authority," Jaspal Singh the superintendent of Andaman Police told reporters in Port Blair.

Singh added that all the accused have been remanded to the judicial custody. In this connection, in an advisory the police said that in addition to the land area specified by a notification coastal water upto a distance of 5 nm from the high tide line on the western side of the South&Middle Andaman from Constance Bay to Louis in Let Bay has been declared as Jarawa Reserve area and any unauthorized entry and interference in such area is an offence and may invite a punishment of jail sentence and fine.

Singh appealed to the local citizens not to illegally enter into the Jarawa territory and interfere with the enjoyment of their rights over their property.

About 200 Jarawa lives in deep forest of Middle and South Andaman regions which are marked as Jarawa Reserve since long.

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