New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS): The Indian government Wednesday asked the Andaman and Nicobar administration to explain how half naked tribal women were forced to dance for tourists.

Terming the incident "obnoxious and disgusting", Tribal Affairs Minister K.P. Singh Deo told Times Now television channel: "It is disgraceful if something like this is happening.

"It ... cannot be pardoned. It deserves exemplary punishment," he said.

Law and Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said strict action should be taken against those responsible for forcing the tribal women to dance.

The Guardian has posted on its website footage filmed by a tourist showing half-naked Jarawa women being told to dance for tourists by an off-camera police officer.

The website said the Jarawa tribe has lived in peace in the Andaman Islands for thousands of years but tour companies are now running safaris through their jungle. Wealthy tourists pay police to make the women - usually naked - dance for their amusement.