Port Blair, June 09: Two persons, including an Army Jawan, have been booked for photography of Jarawa Tribe on ATR near Jirkatang on 8th June (Sunday). A case U/s 8 (4) A&N Islands Protection of Aboriginal Tribes (Amendment) Regulation has been registered at PS Bambooflat in this regard.
On 8th June, a report was received from AAJVS staff that while they were deployed on duty near Jarawa Camp (2 kms) during the movement of the convoy, it was noticed that one camera was appearing out of the window of a scorpio vehicle. One person was seen taking photographs of Jarawas with the assistance of the driver. The vehicle was stopped and on the checking the camera, three nos of photographs of the aboriginal tribe were found on it. It is an offence under PAT regulation and travellers on ATR are told not to indulge in photography.
The photographer and the driver were identified as Geetam Singh Parihar (28) yrs, Lance Naik posted at Army Command HQ,r/o Haddo and Santosh Kumar Rathore (34) yrs, pvt.driver r/o Dean Street respectively.
A case was registered at PS Bambooflat and the two persons were arrested. The involved vehicle and camera have been seized.
Earlier in 2012, a Jarawa dance video had created hue and cry in the international and national media and forced Andaman and Nicobar Administration to order a probe. Later Police said that the video was actually shot by a group of army personnel 2008 and details were shared with the ANC. But since 2012 to 2014 neither any details nor the Army Jawans have been handed over to Police Department by ANC.
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