An American man was killed by a protected tribe in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the police said today.

How it happened

An American is reported to have been killed in India’s Andaman and Nicobar islands, where the indigenous Sentinelese people live.

Fishermen who took the man to North Sentinel island say tribespeople shot him with arrows and left his body on the beach.

“He was attacked by arrows but he continued walking. The fishermen saw the tribals tying a rope around his neck and dragging his body. They were scared and fled,” reported by BBC.

His body was spotted on 20 November. According to the Hindustan Times, his remains have yet to be recovered.

Seven fishermen have been arrested for illegally ferrying the American to the island, police say.

Who is the victim?

Local media say he was a missionary. He has been identified as 27-year-old John Allen Chau. He wanted to meet the tribe to preach Christianity to them.

“Police said Chau had previously visited North Sentinel island about four or five times with the help of local fishermen,” journalist Subir Bhaumik told BBC.

The AFP news agency quoted a source as saying that Chau had tried and failed to reach the island on 14 November. But then he tried again two days later.

Who is the Sentinelese?

The Sentinelese are the indigenous people of North Sentinel Island in the Andaman Islands of India. The Sentinelese, whose population in 2011 was estimated at 40, are known to resist contact with the outside world.

Activists say the tribes are at threat from outsiders, who often bribe locals to access them.

“The number of people belonging to the Sentinelese tribe is so low, they don’t even understand how to use money. It’s in fact illegal to have any sort of contact with them.”

“It’s a difficult case for the police,” says Mr Bhaumik. “You can’t even arrest the Sentinelese.”

The group’s international director, Stephen Corry, called the incident a “tragedy” that “should never have been allowed to happen”.

“The Sentinelese have shown again and again that they want to be left alone, and their wishes should be respected,” he said.

In 2017, the Indian government also said taking photographs or making videos of the aboriginal Andaman tribes would be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years.

The Sentinelese are particularly vulnerable: their complete isolation means they are likely to have no immunity to even common illnesses such as flu and measles.

Source: BBC & NDTV