American Killed By Reclusive Indian Tribe

An American man has been killed by an endangered tribe in India's Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Fishermen who took the man to North Sentinel island say tribespeople shot him with arrows and left his body on the beach.  He has been identified as 27-year-old John Allen Chau, from Alabama.

Contact with the endangered Andaman tribes living in isolation is illegal because of the risks to them from outside disease.  Estimates say the Sentinelese, who are totally cut off from civilization, number only between 50 and 150.  Seven fishermen have been arrested for illegally ferrying the American to the island, police say.

Local media have reported that Chau may have wanted to meet the tribe to preach Christianity to them.  "Police said Chau had previously visited North Sentinel island about four or five times with the help of local fishermen," said journalist Subir Bhaumik of the Hindustan Times.

A local news agency reported that Chau had tried and failed to reach the island earlier this month.  He then tried again two days later, when he was attacked by arrows but he continued walking.

"Fishermen later saw the tribals tying a rope around his neck and dragging his body. They were scared and fled," the report added.

Chau's body was spotted again a week later. His remains have yet to be recovered.  "It's a difficult case for the police," said Bhaumik. "You can't even arrest the Sentinelese.  The number of people belonging to the Sentinelese tribe is so low, they don't even understand how to use money. It's in fact illegal to have any sort of contact with them."