What We Know About Sentinelese, Hostile Tribe That Killed An American ?

World was shocked when heard about a man was killed an American because of trespassing. Sentinelese are tribes of North Sentinel island of Andaman and Nicobar islands. John Allen Chau, an American was killed when he entered the North Sentinel island. He was illegally ferried there by fishermen of Andaman and Nicobar islands as the Indian government has prohibited anyone from entering North Sentinel Island disturbing the Sentinelese.

Some known factors about Sentinelese are -:

The Sentinelese are 60,000 year old tribes, who are direct descendants of the earlier humans who belonged to Africa. They inhabited in Sentinel islands for 60,000 years. Their language is indecipherable even to other tribes in the union territory.

They live on the North Sentinel island which is 50 kms from Port Blair. Their number is said to between 40-150.

Their life is very primitive and they are living on fish and coconut only.

As they have no contacts with outer world, even a common flu can wipe out the entire tribe.

Since 1960 there were many efforts were made by individuals to contact the tribes but all in vein. The Sentinels made it clear aggressively that they don't want to be disturbed.

They even rejected the help by Indian government during the 2004 Tsunami.

The Indian government made strict laws that prohibited anyone from entering their island. But earlier this year Indian government excluded this island and 28 others from the Restricted Area Permit, RAP regime till December 2022. The lifting of RAP means any one can go to the island without government permission.

the only man who was able to contact the sentinels was Trilok Nath Pandit in 1991. If the Sentinelese want isolation, then we should not disturb them. Let them live their life.

image source - media.cntraveller.in