American Tourist Killed in Andaman Islands by Protected Tribe

An American tourist was allegedly killed by a protected tribe in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India on Nov.16, media reports said.

The police have arrested seven fishermen who took John Allen Chau, 27, to North Sentinel Island, where the indigenous Sentinelese people live.

The Sentinelese, whose population in 2011 was estimated at 40, are known to resist contact with the outside world, NDTV reported.

The American tourist had taken a boat ride with the local fishermen before going alone in a canoe to the island toward the southern Andaman. Local fishermen told the police that as soon as Chau landed on the island, the local tribesmen attacked him with bows and arrows. The tribes later dragged the American to the beach. Moments later as the fishermen left the island, they reported seeing Chau’s body half buried in the sand.

“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,” a source told news agency AFP. “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 but returned next morning to find his body on the sea shore,” the source said.

As soon as they reached capital Port Blair, the fishermen narrated the incident to a local preacher, Alex, a friend of Chau. The local preacher then alerted the dead man’s family in the U.S., who immediately contacted the U.S. embassy in New Delhi for help, NDTV reported.

After the U.S. embassy officials informed the police about the incident, seven fishermen were arrested, and the preacher too was questioned.

Authorities in the Union Territory have launched helicopter search teams to look for the body, however, they are unable to land at the island as the Sentinelese are hostile to any attempt at approaching them, media reports said.

Alex told the Union Territory officials that Chau had visited Andamans islands several times in the past. Chau was also “a preacher” who was interested in converting the Sentinelese people, people with direct knowledge of the matter said, NDTV reported.

All visits to the island are heavily restricted by the government as the island is home to not just the tribe, but also to several defense establishments.