Arrow-wielding tribals in Andaman kill him for ‘misplaced adventure’
A probe revealed that John Allen Chau (27) “allegedly got killed at North Sentinel Island during his misplaced adventure in the highly restricted area for trying to interact with the uncontacted people who have a history of vigorous rejection towards outsiders.”
WEB DESK
An American tourist has been allegedly killed by the protected Sentinelese tribe in the North Sentinel Island, a part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. While police said they had received information about the “body of a foreign national” being spotted on the island.
The tourist has been identified as John Allen Chau (27). According to police, Chau rented a boat and hired some local fishermen to take him to the North Sentinel Island. Seven people, including five fishermen, have been arrested.
Police sources said while a body had been spotted, it was yet to be recovered. “We have received information about a body of a foreign national at the remote Sentinel Island. The matter is under investigation,” said Udit Prakash Rai, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Andaman.
The 27-year-old described himself on Instagram as a “Wilderness EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), “PADI Advanced Open Water Diver”, “Outbound Collective Explorer” and a “Snakebite Survivor”.
The local Director General of Police Dependra Pathak told TNM:”His body has not yet been retrieved because we have to strategise keeping in mind the nuances and sensitivity of other cultures.
According to report Mr. Chau was floating in a kayak off a remote island . He was about to set foot on one of the most sealed-off parts of India, an island inhabited by a small, enigmatic and highly isolated tribe whose members have killed outsiders for simply stepping on their shore.
Fishermen warned him not to go. Few outsiders had ever been there. And Indian government regulations clearly prohibited any interaction with people on the island, called North Sentinel.
But Mr. Chau pushed ahead, setting off in his kayak, which he had packed with a Bible. After that, it is a bit of a mystery what happened.
But the police say one thing is clear: Mr. Chau did not survive.