Andaman tribe kill American tourist, activists blame government

New Delhi: An American tourist has been killed by the pre-neolithic and isolated Sentinelese tribe in Andaman and Nicobar Islands while trying to reach out to them, Andaman Police sources said. John Allen Chau is believed to have died around November 14.

Police officials are trying to recover his body around the restricted and unguarded North Sentinel Island home to Sentinelese tribes, government sources told IANS. Seven locals including some fishermen, who facilitated Chaw’s visit, have been arrested. They confirmed seeing Chau being shot down by arrows fired by Sentinalese.

This is not the first time when Sentenalese have attacked and killed trespassers. In 2006, two fishermen went near the island and were killed. The tribals also shot arrows at the helicopter that went to retrieve the bodies. According to an Andaman journalist, Chau was keen to visit Sentinaliese. His mother contacted the American Consulate in Chennai after he could not be reached for over a week.

Giles and green activists held the recent government decision to exclude 29 Andaman islands, including North Sentinel Island, from Restricted Area Permit (RAP) regime to promote tourism responsible for the killing. “North Sentinelese are the only isolated tribe of the world. They have never been contacted by outside world for thousands of years. Their hostility towards outsiders is open. What was the point in opening their area?” Giles asked.

The officials who spoke to IANS said they believed that the American did not take the mandatory permission to visit the island. The government had declared about five kilometres of the surrounding waters of the North Sentinel island as a buffer and thus a prohibited zone. While the restrictions still apply, one can now easily acquire a permit and visit the island. One of the most isolated tribes of the world, Sentinelese are estimated to number 50 to 100. Spread over 27 sq miles, North Sentinel Island is situated 58 km from Port Blair. (IANS)

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