(a) whether the Government has failed to protect the tribal reserve of North Sentinel Island of Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands;
(b) if not, whether murder of a foreign national has been reported from that area;
(c) if so, whether repeal of the Restricted Area permit is one of the cause of the murder; and
(d) if so, the policy of the Government to keep such protected areas peaceful?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a): No Sir.
(b): It has been reported that a foreign national perished in his attempt to enter into prohibited tribal reserve.
(c): No Sir. The Restricted Area Permit has been relaxed subject to conditions including “separate approvals of the competent authority would continue to be required for visiting Reserve Forest, Wild Life Sanctuaries and Tribal Reserves as was the case earlier”.
(d): All the tribal inhabitations including North Sentinel Island have been notified as tribal reserve areas under A&N Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956, entry into which by any outsiders including foreigner nationals is prohibited without entry pass from Deputy Commissioner.
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