Black Caesar
Active Member
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...-remote-island.html?ito=amp_twitter_share-top
An American missionary believed he had been 'called' to convert the protected tribe who shot him dead with arrows when he arrived on their remote Indian island.
John Allen Chau, 27, paid local fishermen to help him get to North Sentinel Island, one of the world's most isolated regions in India's Andaman islands, last week.
Chau took a boat ride with the fishermen before venturing alone in a canoe to where the indigenous people live cut off completely from the outside world, authorities said.
As soon as he set foot on the island, which is off-limits to visitors, Chau found himself facing a flurry of arrows - but he kept walking.
The tribe then tied a rope around his neck and dragging his body away, according to the fishermen who helped him get there.
But the Sentinelese who killed Chau can't be prosecuted as contact with them and several tribes on the islands is illegal in a bid to protect their indigenous way of life and shield them from diseases.
Now, a friend has revealed to DailyMail.com that Chau was 'committed' to travelling to the remote island, deep in the Indian Ocean, and had been planning the trip for at least three years.
Neil MacLeod, of Stornaway, Scotland, said he met Chau on a flight from London to Phoenix, Arizona, in October 2015.
'I saw him reading some Christian literature and I'm a Christian and we started talking,' he said.
MacLeod said Chau told him he had recently returned from India and was trying to figure out how to travel to the remote North Sentinel Island in the Bay of Bengal.
'He mentioned that he wanted to go to these islands, the islands where he has now died,' MacLeod said.
'I had heard of these islands and I know how dangerous they are, so I was surprised by that.'
He added: 'He recognized the dangers of travelling there, but I think he had a sense of call.
'This was something he was working on for three years. He was committed to going there. In his view, he was trying to help these people.
'There are islands that are nearby and he was making relationships and connections to help him get to the islands.'
Since the flight, MacLeod said he had emailed back and forth with Chau, who he described as 'magnetic' and 'charming.'
'He was a lovely character and wanted to help people. The thing that came across was what a delight it was to be in his company.
'He was such a warm and engaging and friendly kind of fellow. You might have an idea of what a missionary might be like, he was a million miles from that.
'I think he's a real loss. I'm just very sorry about what has happened.'
MacLeod said Chau was working as an EMT at the time and had helped during major incidents, including in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
'He was a free wheel so he would go to incidents, like major incidents around the world and look to help,' he added.
'He had worked with FEMA when he went down to Katrina. He was working there. He's worked in some pretty rough places.'
Indian police said a murder case had been registered against 'unknown tribesmen' and seven people arrested in connection with the death.
Their names have not been released, but they are the fishermen who took Chau to the island.
A police source told Reuters that Chau was a preacher who had visited the nearby Andaman and Nicobar islands in the past.
Police have learned he had a strong desire to meet the Sentinelese and preach on the island, the source added.
Chau was a Christian missionary who wanted to interact with members of the Sentinelese tribe, according to International Christian Concern.
William Stark, ICC's regional manager, paid tribute to Chau and condemned his killing.
'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.
He added: 'India must take steps to counter the growing wave of intolerance and violence.'
Authorities say Chau had made several trips to the Andaman islands recently before finally managing to make it to the remote stretch by offering money to local fishermen.
Chau hired a fishing dinghy and, aided by the fishermen, reached the vicinity of the island on November 16, before transferring to a canoe, the official said.
His body, spotted the following day by the fishermen on their return, has not yet been retrieved, the official added.
An American missionary believed he had been 'called' to convert the protected tribe who shot him dead with arrows when he arrived on their remote Indian island.
John Allen Chau, 27, paid local fishermen to help him get to North Sentinel Island, one of the world's most isolated regions in India's Andaman islands, last week.
Chau took a boat ride with the fishermen before venturing alone in a canoe to where the indigenous people live cut off completely from the outside world, authorities said.
As soon as he set foot on the island, which is off-limits to visitors, Chau found himself facing a flurry of arrows - but he kept walking.
The tribe then tied a rope around his neck and dragging his body away, according to the fishermen who helped him get there.
But the Sentinelese who killed Chau can't be prosecuted as contact with them and several tribes on the islands is illegal in a bid to protect their indigenous way of life and shield them from diseases.
Now, a friend has revealed to DailyMail.com that Chau was 'committed' to travelling to the remote island, deep in the Indian Ocean, and had been planning the trip for at least three years.
Neil MacLeod, of Stornaway, Scotland, said he met Chau on a flight from London to Phoenix, Arizona, in October 2015.
'I saw him reading some Christian literature and I'm a Christian and we started talking,' he said.
MacLeod said Chau told him he had recently returned from India and was trying to figure out how to travel to the remote North Sentinel Island in the Bay of Bengal.
'He mentioned that he wanted to go to these islands, the islands where he has now died,' MacLeod said.
'I had heard of these islands and I know how dangerous they are, so I was surprised by that.'
He added: 'He recognized the dangers of travelling there, but I think he had a sense of call.
'This was something he was working on for three years. He was committed to going there. In his view, he was trying to help these people.
'There are islands that are nearby and he was making relationships and connections to help him get to the islands.'
Since the flight, MacLeod said he had emailed back and forth with Chau, who he described as 'magnetic' and 'charming.'
'He was a lovely character and wanted to help people. The thing that came across was what a delight it was to be in his company.
'He was such a warm and engaging and friendly kind of fellow. You might have an idea of what a missionary might be like, he was a million miles from that.
'I think he's a real loss. I'm just very sorry about what has happened.'
MacLeod said Chau was working as an EMT at the time and had helped during major incidents, including in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
'He was a free wheel so he would go to incidents, like major incidents around the world and look to help,' he added.
'He had worked with FEMA when he went down to Katrina. He was working there. He's worked in some pretty rough places.'
Indian police said a murder case had been registered against 'unknown tribesmen' and seven people arrested in connection with the death.
Their names have not been released, but they are the fishermen who took Chau to the island.
A police source told Reuters that Chau was a preacher who had visited the nearby Andaman and Nicobar islands in the past.
Police have learned he had a strong desire to meet the Sentinelese and preach on the island, the source added.
Chau was a Christian missionary who wanted to interact with members of the Sentinelese tribe, according to International Christian Concern.
William Stark, ICC's regional manager, paid tribute to Chau and condemned his killing.
'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.
He added: 'India must take steps to counter the growing wave of intolerance and violence.'
Authorities say Chau had made several trips to the Andaman islands recently before finally managing to make it to the remote stretch by offering money to local fishermen.
Chau hired a fishing dinghy and, aided by the fishermen, reached the vicinity of the island on November 16, before transferring to a canoe, the official said.
His body, spotted the following day by the fishermen on their return, has not yet been retrieved, the official added.
