John Allen Chau, an American tourist, was killed by a tribe living on the North Sentinel Island, Andaman Island, last week.
The incident came to light after the fishermen, who took Chau to the Island, witnessed the incident and told John’s friend about it. John’s friend then informed the police and Chau’s family about the incident.
Twenty seven years old, Chau was an adventurous traveller and a Christian missionary. He wanted to meet the tribals, with the purpose of preaching Christianity to them.
In a letter written on the 16th of November, John wrote, “You guys might think I’m crazy in all this but I think it’s worth it to declare Jesus to these people. Please do not be angry at them or at God if I get killed.” He further wrote, “Rather please live your lives in obedience to whatever he has called you to and I’ll see you again when you pass through the veil. This is not a pointless thing – the eternal lives of this tribe is at hand and I can’t wait to see them around the throne of God worshipping in their own language as Revelations 7:9-10 states (sic.)”
He concluded his letter stating, “I love you all and I pray none of you love anything in this world more than Jesus Christ.”
Apart from this, Chau wrote several journal entries in which he expressed his desire to spread the word of God among the tribe. In one of his journal entries, he wrote, “They had two arrows each, unstrung, until they got closer. I hollered ‘My name is John, I love you and Jesus loves you.’”
Another one says, “Well, I’ve been shot by the Sentinelese… By a kid probably about 10 or so years old, maybe a teenager, short compared to those who looked like adults. A little kid shot me with an arrow – directly into my Bible which I was holding.”
His further wrote, “I don’t want to die! Would it be wiser to leave and let someone else continue? No. I don’t think so. I still could make it back to the U.S. somehow as it almost seems like certain death to stay here.”
Some of his last words were, “God, I don’t want to die. WHO WILL TAKE MY PLACE IF I DO? OH GOD I miss my parents…” He went on to add, “Why did a little kid have to shoot me today?.. Father, forgive him and any of the people on this island who try to kill me…”
He made his way to the Island on the 15th of November, with the help of some fishermen. He came back on the same day and gave all the written journals to the fishermen.
The following day, he travelled to the Island again, which led to his death.
Chau’s family is saddened by the shocking death of their son. They wrote a note and posted it on Instagram.
The police blamed the fishermen and denied any security lapse. They said, the way Chau and the fishermen planned the visit, it looked like they are going for fishing. They further said, they had no idea about Chau’s visit to the Island.
The investigation is still underway. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ authorities and the police arrested the fishermen and the search for recovering Chau’s body is still in progress.
