Conservationists request authorities to call off search for John Chau's mortal remains in Andaman

Conservationists have requested authorities in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to call off search for body of an American man, who was killed by endangered Sentinelese tribe after he trespassed on ir island. A group of experts including anthropologist and researchers who have been studying Sentinelese tribe expressed concern that search teams going to island in south Andaman may escalate tension.

Re: He lost his mind, definitely: John Chau's friends recall his year long research on Andaman tribe

" media has reported nervous stand-offs between teams seeking to land on rth Sentinel to get body and members of Sentinelese community who clearly find se incursions unwelcome," team of experts said in a statement. "Continuing with efforts could well le to furr violence and completely unwarranted loss of life," said statement whose signatories include anthropologist and authors Pankaj Sekhsaria, Visvajit Pandya, Manish Chandi, Mhusree Mukherjee and Sita Venkateswar.

Re: Police Returns 400 Metre From Shore After Spotting Andaman Tribe Armed With Bows And Arrows

Indian officials have traveled repeatedly in recent days near remote island where an American missionary was killed by people who have long resisted outside world. But y have t set foot onto rth Sentinel Island since incident. John Allen Chau was killed by islanders in mid-vember after paying fishermen to take him to island, where outsiders are effectively forbidden by Indian law. fishermen informed authorities that y saw Sentinelese bury Chau’s body on beach. 

Earlier, Indian officers h a long-distance face-off with tribe in ir latest bid to locate body of 27-year-old John Allen Chau on  remote island of Andaman and Nicobar, police said on Sunday.

police team, who took a boat just off Indian-owned rth Sentinel island on Saturday, spotted men from Sentinelese tribe on beach where John Allen Chau was last seen, region's police chief Dependra Pathak h informed.

Using biculars, officers -- in a police boat about 400 metres from shore -- saw men armed with bows and arrows, weapons reportedly used by isolated tribe.

death of 27-year-old on vember 17 has cast a new spotlight on efforts to protect one of world's last "uncontacted" tribes whose langu and customs remain a mystery to outsiders.