Sri Vijaya Puram, July 2: What was once viewed as a routine municipal issue has rapidly evolved into one of the most politically sensitive controversies in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The issue of free-roaming pigs, reported across several residential localities of the capital, has become the centre of an increasingly bitter political battle involving ruling BJP leaders, expelled BJP functionaries and local residents.
Complaints relating to pigs roaming freely have surfaced from Delanipur, Goal Ghar, Middle Point, Phoenix Bay, Buniyadabad, Brookshabad, Junglighat and Prem Nagar, with residents alleging that the animals create unhygienic conditions, obstruct roads and pose a public health hazard. The issue has been particularly pronounced in Wards 6 and 7, where repeated representations have reportedly been made to the authorities seeking stricter enforcement.
Public health experts have long cautioned that poorly managed pig populations can pose sanitation risks, particularly when animals roam freely through residential neighbourhoods and come into contact with open garbage, drains and water sources. Pig waste can contaminate the environment and attract flies and other disease-carrying vectors. Scientific literature also notes that pigs can act as reservoirs or intermediate hosts for diseases such as Japanese Encephalitis and swine influenza under specific conditions, while poor sanitation associated with pig rearing can increase the risk of gastrointestinal infections and other zoonotic diseases. Health experts stress that these risks can be significantly reduced through regulated farming, proper waste management, vaccination and confinement of livestock. There is no evidence to suggest that the pigs involved in the present controversy are carrying any specific disease.
At the centre of the controversy is Ward No. 6 councillor and expelled BJP leader Aziz-ur-Rahman, who has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of what he describes as the administration’s failure to tackle the problem. Rahman has repeatedly alleged that unregulated pig rearing has made several neighbourhoods unsanitary and accused the authorities of failing to act despite repeated complaints from residents.
The political temperature surrounding the issue rose sharply after Rahman alleged that a group of around 25 to 30 persons from Prem Nagar attacked a shop near the Junglighat petrol pump, assaulted the owner, Naresh, and his staff, and vandalised the premises. Rahman alleged that the group was led by Deep Singh and enjoyed political patronage from a senior BJP leader. The allegations have not been independently verified, and no court has adjudicated on the claims.
The victims also alleged that those involved are frequently seen at the BJP office and misuse political influence to intimidate local residents. They further claimed that repeated complaints over pig farming and unhygienic conditions have failed to elicit meaningful administrative action. These allegations remain unverified, and no official agency has confirmed any political interference.
The controversy has also drawn attention to the long-standing political sensitivity surrounding pig rearing in the islands. The trade has traditionally supported the livelihoods of several families and sections of the local population for decades. Senior BJP leader Sher Singh is widely known to have been associated with the business for many years, making the issue politically delicate within the ruling party. While no allegation of wrongdoing has been made against him in relation to the present dispute, political observers say the longstanding association has contributed to the reluctance of successive administrations to aggressively enforce restrictions on free-roaming pigs.
The present controversy has also highlighted gaps in civic infrastructure. Brookshabad was designated by the Municipal Council in 2005 as the official area for pig rearing. However, the designated pig shelter reportedly fell into disrepair over the years and is only now undergoing repairs. Residents argue that inadequate infrastructure, coupled with weak enforcement, has allowed pigs to stray into residential colonies across the city.
The issue has since moved well beyond municipal governance. It has become a symbol of competing political narratives, with one side portraying it as a pressing public health and sanitation concern demanding immediate action, while others argue that any solution must also protect the livelihoods of families dependent on a traditional occupation.
As accusations and counter-accusations continue to dominate public discourse, the administration finds itself under increasing pressure to demonstrate that civic governance can be enforced without political considerations. For many residents, however, the larger question remains unchanged: whether a problem that has persisted for years will finally be addressed, or whether it will continue to be consumed by politics.
