Viper Island

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Viper Island off Port Blair, Andaman Archipelago, India.

The first proper jail of the Penal Settlement of Andaman Islands was constructed in Viper Island in 1867. This small island derives its name from the vessel `Viper' in which Lt. Archibald Blair came to Andaman Islands in 1789. Before the construction of Cellular Jail in Port Blair all the political prisoners were kept here. They were chained together which gave birth to the infamous phrase "Viper Chain Gang Jail". The famous Pathan from Peshawar, Sher Ali Khan was hanged in this Jail. He was sentenced to death for assassinating the then Viceroy of India, Lord mayo on February 8, 1872 at Hope Town jetty, opposite Chatham Island. After construction of Cellular Jail, all the male prisoners were shifted there and the Viper Island Jail was used for female prisoners only and after some years it was abandoned all-together...all of the two-storeyed Jail building decayed over the years. What now stand is the Hanging House of the jail over a hillock and a administrative building in a ruined condition. There is no permanent settlement at the island and it is presently maintained by the Tourism Department of Indian Government.

The polygon attempts to follow the outline visible in Google Images, including tidally flooded areas such as mangroves and beaches.