Poaching in Andaman growing into a national security threat

Port Blair, June 7 (UNI) The rise in poaching activities in the northern region of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is slowing becoming a threat to national security, experts believe.

''We suspect there are definitely some paid agents in these islands to help these foreign poachers. In future this could become a threat to our national security,'' the Commander-in-Chief of Andaman and Nicobar Command(ANC) said here today.

The top-most officer of India's first tri-service Joint Command, ANC, Air Marshal P P Rajkumar said that the poaching activities are decreasing but are still a cause of concern.

''Poaching activities are very organized now-a-days. These poachers have sound knowledge about these islands,'' he added.

Andaman and Nicobar Island, located in the Bay of Bengal, this group of 572 islands, 193 km away from Cape Negrais in Myanmar, 11,255 km from Kolkata and 1,190 km from Chennai. Poachers from Burma (Myanmar) often sneak into these islands tricking Coast Guards and Indian Surveillance System.

Poaching activities are increasing every day with more than 204 poachers apprehended this year by the Indian Coast Guards, Navy and Andaman and Nicobar Police. At least, as many are thought to be getting away.

He said that to apprehend poachers, the ANC mostly depends on intelligence information from various corners of these islands and the presence of these local agents in India for these outsiders is another serious cause of concern.

''What we want is intelligence. If our people are fishing in these areas, they won't allow other people to come, if we have more fishing activities, we will get more information. Fishermen can come and tell the police if they see any poachers,'' Mr Raj Kumar Said.

The ANC have also reported that there are some poachers living in the remote islands for months who collect and smuggle sea cucumbers and corals.

However, there are also concerns about a growing threat of terrorists from sea routes.

''Poacher by themselves are a law and order problem. Terrorists are security problem. These people just steal fish and try to make money but terrorists come to attack. At any time, these poachers could supply information to the terrorists,'' the C-in-C said.

He said the ANC exprssed concern when their commander said, ''These poachers know these islands well enough and with that information, they could help terrorists strategise their attacks.'' ''They may not use Andaman and Nicobar as a target like what happens in mainland. But, they can use this as a transit point - a base for their operation,'' he added.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, home to some of the world's most isolated tribes, whose territory is off-limits to outsiders, were badly hit by the 2004 Asian tsunami. Thousands of people were killed and considerable damage was done to the region's rich marine life, the commander iterated.

Mr Rajkumar ruled out any possible threat from China, which is located very near the islands and has common ocean stretch having strategic advantage. ''So far we don't have any reason to believe China will do anything against India,'' he said.

UNI