According to media reports, a Christian missionary was shot to death with arrows by an endangered tribe in the North Sentinel Island from the cluster of Andaman Islands. Identified as John Allen Chau, a citizen of United States of America, the body of the deceased ‘tourist’ was found by the local fisherman, who had ferried him to the said location. According to the fisherman, the body was riddled with arrows, shot by unidentified assailants. As of now, a case of murder has been registered by the local police at Port Blair, and seven fishermen connected with the deceased ‘tourist’ have been taken into custody until further notice, as per the primary reports.
According to local sources, the deceased, John Chau was an American missionary, who used to convert people to Christianity, and the concerned island is home to the North Sentinel tribals, who are among the endangered tribes.
Andaman Islands are host to many such endangered tribes, which are protected by the Indian government and are forbidden to have any contact with the outside world. As per a notification by the Indian government in 2017, any contact or photograph taken with the aboriginal Andaman tribes shall be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, with or without fine as depending upon the merit of the case.
One such tribe lives in the North Sentinel Island, which does not only have negligible contacts with the outside world, but are also extremely hostile to the same. According to a BBC report on the same, “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.”
According to local sources, the deceased missionary, John Chau, was a regular offender, who had made frequent trips to the Andaman tribes before as well. A missionary NGO confirmed his allegiance, “We here at International Christian Concern are extremely concerned by the reports of an American missionary being murdered in India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Our thoughts and prayers go out to both John’s family and friends. A full investigation must be launched in this this murder and those responsible must be brought to justice.”
According to the witnesses, they saw Chau disembarking from the boat on 14th November, when he was attacked with arrows by the tribals. Undeterred, he made another attempt on the 16th of November, when some tribals caught hold of him, tied a rope around his neck and dragged him. As they came back the following day, the fishermen discovered his body, riddled with arrows and half buried in sand.
The repeated attempts of the American missionary in question to trespass into the territory of an endangered tribe to convert the people of the island were in gross violation of the law regarding these tribes. As such, the unfortunate incident should be seen as a warning sign by the overzealous evangelicals active in these islands.