American tourist killed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands\, seven arrested


American tourist killed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, seven arrested

andaman-tourism

An American tourist was allegedly murdered by unidentified persons in Andaman and Nicobar's North Sentinel Island.

The North Sentinel Island, off-bounds to visitors, is home to the Sentinelese, who killed the American, identified as John Allen Chau, after he was illegally ferried there by fishermen, the officials said.

The local police have registered a case of murder and arrested seven people in connection with the murder of Chau.

According to Andaman Sheekha newspaper, the victim had visited Islands five times in past and had a strong desire to meet Sentinelese Tribes for preaching Christianity.

John Allen Chau reportedly hired fishing dinghy from Chidiyatapu area and with the help of some fishermen he reached close to the Island on 16 November 2018, from where he travelled in his own canoe, reported Andaman Sheekha. 

"We are aware of reports concerning a US citizen in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands," a spokeswoman for the United States consulate in India's southern city of Chennai said in an email to Reuters.

"When a US citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts," she added, but declined to provide further details over privacy concerns.