American tourist allegedly killed by a remote indigenous tribe on India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands that had little contact with the outside world

• The local police are reportedly investigating and a case of murder has been registered.
  
• The Sentinelese are among India’s protected tribes and the North Sentinel Island is out of bounds for even Indian authorities.
  
• The American national was reportedly attacked by arrows and had taken a fishing boat to the island to interact with the tribe.

An American tourist was allegedly killed by members of the Sentinelese tribe, a remote indigenous tribe on India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands with almost no contact with the outside world, according to reports.

The Sentinelese tribe, which has a small population of under 50, lives on the North Sentinel Island of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The tribe is one of India’s protected tribes and is said to resist contact with outsiders.

The American national has been identified as 27-year-old John Allen Chau, Reuters reported citing local police officials. The local police are currently investigating and a case of murder had been registered, said the report.

Chau had a strong desire to interact with the Sentinelese and had hired a fishing boat before taking a canoe, said the report.

According to an AFP report which cited sources, Chau was “attacked by arrows but he continued walking."

As a protected island, even the Indian navy isn’t allowed to interact with its inhabitants. Andaman and Nicobar islands is home to several protected tribes that live in.

A spokeswoman for the US consulate in Chennai reportedly said it was aware of the reports about the incident.