Tsunami victims agitate in Andaman: situation tense

Port Blair, Nov 17 (UNI) At least 23 people, including 13 jawans were injured, when security forces tried to disperse about 1500 tsunami victims who had been agitating in Hut Bay Island of South Andaman region demanding better permanent shelters and rehabilitation package.

South Andaman's Superintendent of Police Jaspal Singh today said '' thirteen jawans have been injured in stone pelting and 10 villagers wounded when our troops forcefully dispersed them yesterday evening when they came to the police station for mass arrest'' .

The islanders have been protesting against various 'faulty' rehabilitation processes. They were demanding single permanent shelter unit for a single family and shifting of some sites chosen for construction of permanent shelter.

Mr Singh said the situation became tense since yesterday evening after police forcefully dispersed a large crowd of agitators who later burnt a government jeep of the local Tehsilder and threw stones and glass bottles on the local police station.

He said though the situation was tense, it was under control.

'' We are holding meeting with islanders of Hut Bay and giving them full support,'' Manoranjan Bhakta, the lone Member of Parliament told UNI today in Port Blair.

Later talking to newspersons, Bhakta alleged that the Island Administration was responsible for peoples sufferings' and the tense situation.

After getting the information all political leaders flew for Hut Bay by Helicopter.

Later this afternoon a group of Congress workers demonstrated in front of the Secretariat building of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

BJP supporters also organised a public meeting at the Tiranga Park of Port Blair to show their support for the tsunami hit people of Hut Bay.

UNI SKR KK MQA RK1745