Port Blair, Jan. 16: “There has been a lot of adverse publicity in the National and International press about ‘Jarawa Tourism’ in the Andaman Islands. Transcripts have appeared on the net about agents, tour operators and drivers offering such ‘packages’ to tourists. This has shown the islands, the public and the administration in poor light. The A&N Police will henceforth adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards such practices”, S.B. Deol, the Director General of Police said here.

Deol further said, “The world Jarawa appearing on the website of any tour advertisement will lead to an immediate case being registered and arrests of those concerned.”

Agents such as souvenir shop owners/ attendants who offer such services will be arrested. Drivers and tour operators will be held totally responsible for any contact of the tourists with the Jarawa, or any infringement of convoy rules. Similarly possession of video clips of Jarawa tribals which some unscrupulous people try to sell will lead to immediate arrest, the DGP adds.

“Section 3 (1) (iii) of the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act covers the offence of lowering the dignity of any schedule tribe. There is a specific offence of lowering the dignity of any schedule tribe. There is a specific prohibition of anticipatory bail and imprisonment of five years is prescribed under the law”.

Issuing strict warning in this regard, Deol added that decoys in the shape of plain clothes policemen and even genuine tourists will be deployed to solicit such offers from the various agents, operators and drivers. These will be recorded and immediate action will ensure.