THELIGHTOFANDAMANS: 2014-01-12

Friday, January 17, 2014

Jarawa Girls Exploitation Case: Update Seven Persons Arrested

Jarawa Girls Exploitation Case: Update

Seven Persons Arrested

By Zubair Ahmed

In the Jarawa Girls exploitation case in Tirur sector, seven persons who had taken eight girls in two Dinghies to Hiren Tikrey have been arrested and the process of registration of FIR is still in progress.

On 14th January, four persons – Ashit Mandal (Collinpur), Tapan Mandal (Collinpur), Birbal Mandal (Collinpur) and Rajesh Das (Temple Myo) took four unmarried Jarawa girls to Hiren Tikrey, an Island 3-4 hours ride from Tirur in an Engine Dinghy and stayed there for three days.

In another incident, on 16th January, Narayan Rai (Sujoy), B Kumar Raja and Shambu Bepari, all belonging to Herbertabad took four unmarried Jarawa girls to Hiren Tikrey.

The information about the exploitation of Jarawa girls were passed on the authorities by a few Jarawa youth. A special joint squad comprising of Police and AAJVS staff was formed and alongwith a few Jarawa youth raided the Island and the culprits and Jarawas were located.

Meanwhile, it is also learnt that the group of furious Jarawa youth attacked the culprits. Narayan Roy (Sujoy) is a repeat offender with more than five similar cases pending against him.

All the seven culprits were brought to Kadamtala Police Station and case was filed against them. It is learnt that DySP North Andaman is investigating the case and SP South Andaman Chinmoy Biswal has also left to Kadamtala.

Sources informed that under which sections they will be booked is yet to be decided, but told that they have violated PAT Regulations. Sources also informed that the case of kidnapping and sexual exploitation can only be ascertained after proper enquiry.

Breaking News: Eight Jarawa Girls Kidnapped and Taken to Hiren Tikrey

Breaking News:

Eight Jarawa Girls Kidnapped and Taken to Hiren Tikrey

FIR against Seven Persons Registered at PS, Kadamtala

In a shocking incident, in two Dinghies, 8 Jarawa girls were kidnapped from Jao Khana, Tirur and taken to Hiren Tikrey by seven persons belonging to Tirur area. After prolonged search in Hiren Tikrey, the Jarawa girls alongwith the seven culprits were located.

A case has been registered against the seven including one Sujoy and all of them have been placed under arrest in Kadamtala Police Station. However, it is not clear what charges have been pressed against them. Further details are awaited.

It is learnt from highly placed sources that the Jarawa girls were taken a couple of days ago, and based on reliable information, a search team located the culprits along with the Jarawa girls from Hiren Tikrey.

It is also learnt that some Jarawa youth thrashed the culprits.

Earlier too, many complaints of sexual exploitation of Jarawas by a group of settlers including Sujoy belonging to Tirur area were reported.

About The Light of Andamans

The Light of Andamans’ was born out of the zeal and determination to fight against the suffocating Kafkaesque atmosphere on the society that existed even after 30 years of Independence under bureaucratic rule. It was a hangover of the ‘Raj’that extended much too long in the Islands.

The Light of Andamans’ was started in 1975. The paper had always been a crusader, taking up the causes that no other newspaper would touch. In doing so, it very often stepped on the toes of the authorities and had to face persecution in the form of denial of advertisements and numerous court cases against it. For a small stint, the publication came to a halt in 2003.

Gezira Publications Private Limited took over the paper in the year 2005 and transferred the title in a bid to revive the second oldest newsmagazine from extinction and also to carry forward the mission.

The Newsmagazine, under the new management, has undergone a sea change both in form and content. It turned into a full-fledged tabloid with 10 pages with plenty of photographs making both pleasing to the eyes and soothing for the mind. “It has acquired a position where it influences the policies in vital matters concerning the development of the islands, protection of aboriginal tribes and addressing the problems of the disadvantaged groups. The newsmagazine is known and appreciated for its bold, free, fair and balanced reporting.”

Late Govinda Raju and his team worked very hard to rebuild the reputation, goodwill and a healthy new image of the newsmagazine brick by brick. After the demise of Mr Raju in 2010, the magazine is now being edited by Zubair Ahmed and published by Basudev Dass. The newsmagazine continues its mission of highlighting policy issues pertaining to the Islands.