US man, out to explore cut-off Andaman island, killed by protected tribe

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Updated: Nov 21, 2018 19:54 IST

An American tourist was killed by arrows shot by protected tribesmen living in the remote North Sentinel Island in the Andaman islands, AFP reports quoting police .

John Chau, 27, had taken a boat ride with local fishermen before venturing alone in a canoe to the island where the indigenous people live cut off completely from the outside world.

As soon as he set foot on the island, Chau found himself facing a flurry of arrows, official sources told AFP.

Police officer Vijay Singh said those arrested are fishermen who facilitated the American’s visit to the Island.

Singh said the man was killed on Saturday. He declined to give any other details, saying he was investigating the case, AP reported.

Chau had made several trips to the Andaman islands recently before finally managing to make it to the remote stretch by offering money to local fishermen.

“He tried to reach the Sentinel island on November 14 but could not make it. Two days later he went well prepared. He left the dingy midway and took a canoe all by himself to the island,” AFP reports quoting sources.

“He was attacked by arrows but he continued walking. The fishermen saw the tribals tying a rope around his neck and dragging his body”, sources said adding, “they were scared and fled but returned next morning to find his body on the sea shore.”

Also read | Isolated tribe kills American tourist on remote island in Andaman sea. But who are Sentinelese?

The body has not yet been retrieved, a police official said.

The North Sentinel island is out of bounds even to the Indian navy in a bid to protect its reclusive inhabitants who number only about 150.

The Sentinelese people live on their own small forested island and are known to resist all contact with outsiders, often attacking anyone who comes near.

Website Andaman Sheekha, quoting sources, reported that the victim visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands five times in past and had a strong desire to meet Sentinelese tribes for preaching Christianity.

The Andamans are also home to the 400-strong Jarawa tribe who activists say are at threat from outsiders, who often bribe local authorities to spend a day out with them.