American found dead on North Sentinel Island

A 27-year-old American national was found dead on the North Sentinel Island recently. The man had been reportedly killed by members of the Sentinelese tribe, who reside outside contact on an island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The man identified as John Allen Chau was allegedly murdered on the North Sentinel Island, which is part of the Andaman Islands, and seven people have been arrested in connection with the murder.

The Andaman and Nicobar Police has registered a case of murder. Another complaint has been filed in Chennai by the US consulate there. The Chennai FIR is a missing persons complaint that was filed at the behest of Chau's mother.

Chau, reportedly, was a missionary who wanted to meet the Sentinelese, which is protected under Indian law, in order to convert them to Christianity.

According to a local daily named Andaman Sheekha newspaper Chau "visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands five times in past and had a strong desire to meet Sentinelese Tribes for preaching Christianity."

The newspaper reported that Chau had gone to the North Sentinel Island sometime in the last five days with the help of a fisherman.

News agency Agence France-Presse, quoting sources, reported that Chau was attacked by arrows.

"He was attacked by arrows but he continued walking," the sources told AFP. Local fishermen also saw the Sentinelese tying Chu's body to a rope and dragged it along the ground.

The fishermen were scared and so initially fled from the area. They returned the next morning and found Chau's body lying on the coast, reported AFP.

A case of murder was registered yesterday, i.e. November 20, evening.

The North Sentinel Island is home to the Sentinelese, an indigenous tribe that is furiously rejects outside contact.

The Indian law protects the Sentinelese people, whose number is estimated to be fewer than 50. They famously do not use money.

They cannot be prosecuted and any contact with them or entry into areas inhabited by them is illegal.

Even taking videos of the Sentinelese people is prohibited. In 2017, the government had clarified that the Sentinelese are identified as an "aboriginal tribe" and that videos showing them cannot be uploaded on social media or the internet.

(Featured Image: Times Now)