Bhaktat condemns tsunami riots in Andaman

Port Blair, Nov 18 (UNI) Lone Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar islands Bhakta today condemned the incident of police lathi-charge and alleged atrocities on the tsunami victims, including women and children, in Hut Bay island of Andaman.

"I condemn all kind of atrocities by police as also the anti-social elements," Bhakta told UNI today.

He said that there has been dissatisfaction amongst the tsunami victims in connection with the permanent settlement and this issue was under his observation for quite some time.

"I have from time to time expressed my viewpoint on this issue for resolving it peacefully. But this was denied by the concerned authorities," he alleged.

According to police, 10 tsunami-hit islanders and 13 police personnel were injured in the riot on Thursday evening. But unconfirmed sources told UNI that about 34 islanders were injured after police started lathi-charge.

"It is unfortunate the ultimately a very normal course of rehabilitation ran into public agitation and police resorted to lathi-charge and inflicted atrocities on the tsunami victims, including women and children," Bhakta said.

The MP believes that the incident took an ugly turn with the possible involvement of anti-social elements, who tried to disturb the peaceful atmosphere.

The Member of Parliament is presently holding meeting with senior officers of Andaman and Nicobar Administration regarding this matter after coming back from Hut Bay yesterday.

He alleged that "the unrealistic approach" of the administration has led to such a situation.

"I strongly feel that this issue of permanent settlement should be reopened and under consultation with the PRIs and other concerned, a peaceful settlement should be arrived at. Any attempt of political intervention at this juncture is unwarranted and is against the interest of the people at large," he said.

However, police claimed that law an order situation of Hut Bay is presently under control.

"It is tensed but I must say it is under control. We have deployed additional forces for the maintaining of law and order situation," Jaspal Singh, Andaman Superintendent of Police, told UNI in Port Blair.

The situation became tensed since Thursday evening after police forcefully dispersed huge crowd of agitators in Hut Bay. The mob later burned a government jeep of local Tehsilder and pelted stones and threw glass bottles on local police station.

UNI SKR TJP/src1540