Ensure security of primitive tribes in Andaman: Singh

Port Blair, Aug 7 (UNI) Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Bhopinder Singh today inspected ''Adi Basera,'' the guest house for primitive Great Andamanese tribes here and directed officials to ensure security of the tribal communities in the remote islands.

A woman of the great Andaman tribal community was set ablaze in June inside the guest house following which she was referred to Chennai for treatment with nearly 60 per cent burn injuries. The culprit has been apprehended by the police.

''How a person can enter a tribal reserve area and commit a crime.

This is a serious issue and we must accept that there is a failure in system and we must correct that. I want stern action against government officers concerned,'' Mr Singh told UNI after the surprise raid.

''Security of tribal people is our upmost responsiblity and this kind of incident should never happen again,'' Mr Singh said.

Nu, the tribal victim, hails from Great Andamanese Tribal community, one of the six tribal groups of the remote archipelago and is presently kept under experts care in Chennai.The woman was set ablaze after pouring petrol by one Dayanandu of Port Blair, working with PWD in Andaman, following some conflict.

Mr Singh also directed the officials to send a senior officer of Tribal Welfare to Chennai tomorrow to meet Nu from where the officer would be filing reports everyday.

Andaman and Nicobar Island are home for six tribal communities, some of which, were facing extinction.

Nu, hails from Great Andamanese community which has only 52 living members in the world at present.

UNI