Port Blair, Jan. 18: In connection with the ongoing investigation concerning video recording of the jarawas, appearing in the press, visual and electronic media, two persons namely Rajesh Vyas @ Raju, Proprietor of M/s Vyas Brothers gift shop and Guddu (the taxi driver) featuring in the article that appeared in the “Observer” were put to sustained interrogation by police. During the course of interrogation, Guddu has admitted that he took the reporter of the “Observer’ to different places in Port Blair and also Middle Strait through the Andaman Trunk Road.

Further Rajesh Vyas @ Raju has admitted that he arranged the vehicle and driver for the reporter of the Observer. He has also admitted to have solicited the reporter that he will organise Jarawa tourism and the photography of the Jarawas for a handsome amount. He was trying to dupe the foreigner by hiking the amount on the pretext that it had to be paid to the police, SBS Tyagi, the Superintendent of Police said in a release tonight.

“The police team is questioning several tour operators and taxi drivers of the city in an effort to track down the source of the video. Efforts have also been made with the help of AAJVS officials, to ascertain the approximate time of the video recording appearing in the media. All vehicles passing through the Andaman Trunk Road during the suspected period are being screened by the investigating team”, he said.

Meanwhile, the police have conducted several raids at video/CD/souvenir shops in the city and adjoining areas to recover any offensive video concerning the Jarawas. All efforts are being made to identify the source of the video recording and the offender.

Residents of the Islands have been requested by the police to pass on any information pertaining to the existence of circulation of any such illegal video or photograph in the city to help bring these shameful culprits to book.