An American tourist was killed by unidentified assailants in North Sentinel Island, Andaman. Police have held seven people in this connection so far. The deceased has been identified as John Allen Chau. A case was registered at the Humfrigunj police station of South Andaman. Investigation in the incident is on.
On Nov 19, an e-mail was received from the US Consulate General, Chennai wherein it stated that they had received a communication from John Allen Chau’s mother about her son’s visit to North Sentinel Island where he was allegedly attacked.
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“We are aware of reports concerning a US Citizen in the Andaman &Nicobar Islands. The welfare and safety of US citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the US Department of State. When a US citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment,” said spokesperson of the US Consulate here on Wednesday.
The North Sentinel Island is home to the Sentinelese, a native tribe that irately spurns external contacts. The hunter-gatherer society solely survives on hunting, fishing, and collecting wild plants. They are considered to be one of the uncontacted tribes and the population is estimated at 40 to 500. The island is off-bounds to visitors.
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Chau hired a fishing dinghy and, aided by the fishermen, reached the vicinity of the island on Nov. 16, before transferring to a canoe, an official told Reuters.
His body, spotted the following day by the fishermen on their return, has not yet been retrieved, the official added, although the fishermen who took him there have been arrested, the Reuters report said.
(with ANI inputs)