American Man Killed By Sentinel Tribes In Andaman After He Illegally Entered Protected Island

An American tourist who tried to enter an Andaman Island which is a home to an uncontacted tribe was killed by the hostile tribe.

The deceased has been identified as 27-year-old John Allen Chau, who was in India on a tourist visa.

Chau had reportedly reached near the North Sentinel island, which is home to the indigenous tribe on November 16 and attempted to make contact with the residents who are known to be hostile to outsiders.?

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There are also reports that he had travelled to the island which is not accessible for outsiders at least five times in the past.

Police have arrested seven fishermen who took him to the island illegally. According to the fishermen, Chau was travelling on a canoe alone when he came under attack with arrows from the tribes.?

They then dragged the body of the Chau and disappeared into the wilderness. The island authorities have launched a helicopter hunt for the tourist's missing body. But given how hostile the tribes are to outsiders, it is highly unlikely that the body will ever be recovered.

While it is not yet clear why Chau was trying to make contact with the Sentinel tribe, it is reported that he was a missionary.?

According to International Christian Concern (ICC) Chau, had visited the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on five previous occasions and had expressed a strong desire to meet with the Sentinelese tribes to preach Christianity.

This is not the first time outsiders, and tourists have tried to illegally enter the strategically important and protected islands in Andaman and make contact with the indigenous people.

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A few years ago videos of members from another protected tribe, the Jarawa dancing for tourists on the lure of sweets and fruits had triggered massive international outrage, with many even comparing it to a human safari.

Despite a ban on entry into the island, there have been a number of incidents were outsiders have to manage to reach the island by bribing local authorities to spend a day out with them.