After the Centre’s intervention, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration ordered investigation into reports that semi-naked Jarawa tribal women are being forced to dance in front of tourists visiting the islands.

The investigation will also cover the unknown persons who shot and uploaded a video which showed semi-naked Jarawa tribal women dancing in front of tourists.

The Union Territory police have registered cases under section 292 of Indian Penal Code (showing obscene material), section 67 of IT act (Publishing of information which is obscene in electronic form), section 3 (2) of Schedule Caste and Scheduled Tribes (forces a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe to drink or eat any inedible or obnoxious substance).

Cases have been booked under section 7 (entering buffer zone for commercial activities) and section 8 (promoting tourism activities through any advertisement about Jarawa tribes) of Protection of Aboriginal Tribes.

The police have formed a special team to be headed by DSP cadre officer and investigation will be conducted with the close cooperation of central cyber police.

The issue has attracted the Centre’s attention after some tourists uploaded a video on the internet which showed the semi clad tribal women dancing in front of tourists at the instance of some local officials. The video says that local civil and police officials have colluded with the tour operators for the sake of money and are forcing the tribal women to dance semi nude to entertain the tourists. (JUBS)