New Delhi, Jan 12 (IANS) Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Thursday that the footage of Jarawa tribeswomen being made to dance for tourists was “three to four years” old and the government had asked the Andaman and Nicobar authorities to question the tour operator and videographer who shot the clip.

Responding to questions on the footage posted by a British newspaper website which showed semi-naked Jarawa women dancing for tourists, Chidambaram said whatever happended was violation of norms.

He said the footage has been subjected to analysis. “That particular video… It is three to four years old,” the minister said.

Chidambaram said he had instructed the administration to apprehend the tour operator concerned and videographer and interrogate them.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands authorities Wednesday denied that women from the endangered Jarawa tribe were exploited and forced to dance semi-naked for tourists, as reported by a British newspaper’s website, but they said the veracity of the video would be checked and action taken against those involved.

The footage had evoked serious reactions from women’s rights activists who demanded strong action against those who violated the rules.