Hundreds of tsunami-hit Tribals protest for better amenities

Port Blair, Dec 13 (UNI) Hundreds of Nicobar tribals today staged a demonstration in the remote tsunami-hit Katchal Island, of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, demanding better amenities.

''One of their main demands was uninterrupted power supply during night, when they sing carols but, when a local official failed to do that they started agitating,'' Assistant Commissioner of Nancowry group of islands S C Tyagi told UNI.

Katchal Island is one of the five inhabited island of Nancowry group in the Andaman and Nicobar chain situated in Bay of Bengal, which was worst hit by tsunami waves on December 26, 2006.

Mr Tyagi said that the mob shouted slogans during his visit to the islands this morning.

''They have some more grievances like regular water supply and inter-island ferry services,'' he said.

According to reports, a senior officer's government quarter of Electricity Department was also pelted with stones by the agitated people.

The tribals said they were also annoyed with a recent notification published by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration regarding tribal forest.

''It seems some of the agitating islanders also man-handled the local government official who interrupted power-supply,'' said Rashid, the spokesperson of Tribal Council of Nancowry.

Mr Rashid said that besides power interruption, irregular ferry services between Southern group of islands and misbehavior of the official were the main cause of the agitation.

The Assistant Commissioner, however, said that situation in Katchal was presently peaceful and all the issues will be taken care of by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.

A cluster of eight uninhabited and five inhabited islands, Nancowry group of islands falls under the Nicobar District of Andaman and Nicobar Chain which were ravaged by tsunami on the Boxing Day of 2004.

Nicobar District is mostly dominated by Nicobari Tribal population among whom most of them are Christians.

UNI SKR BA KD KN2106