New Delhi: The American tourist, who was allegedly killed by the Sentinelese tribe, violated all norms by entering the North Sentinel Island of Andaman, said a source in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Dismissing reports that the victim, John Allen Chau, was involved in missionary works, the source said: “There was also no confirmation that the victim was involved in any evangelical activities.”
It was further spelt out that the photographs which the deceased possessed indicated that he was an adventure sportsperson.
However, the source underlined, “Chau violated all the norms. Moreover, he had also not informed the hotel (that he was visiting the area).”
Describing the danger Chau took upon himself by entering the island which is inhabited by the world’s most reclusive tribes, who reject any kind of contact with the outside world, the source said: “He was to a place which was highly sensitive and restricted from every point of view.”
Before entering the island, it is mandatory to clear three filters including permissions from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs Ministry, Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).
Access to North Sentinel Island and its buffer zone is strictly restricted under Protection of Aboriginal Tribe (Regulation), 1956 and Regulations under Indian Forest Act, 1927. The Ministry of Home Affairs through its recent circulars also restricted movement of foreigners in these areas.
There are 29 inhabited islands in the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands that have been excluded from the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) regime which include the North Sentinel Island where the incident took place.
The source, however, stressed that “the government, as of now, is not thinking of imposing RAP despite the incident”.
He said that investigation is going on, and the Andaman and Nicobar Police have registered a case against unknown persons, and the mother of the victim had already been informed.
“We have no idea as to why he went there. It can only be found after investigation and interrogation of those who have been arrested,” the source said.
The police have arrested seven people including Chau’s local friend, Alexander, an electronics engineer and fishermen.
The victim visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands a few times earlier.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]