U.S. missionary slain with bows & arrows

An American missionary was reportedly killed by members of an isolated Indian tribe so resistant to outside cultures they often open fire on intruders with bows and arrows, police said.

John Allen Chau hoped to preach Christianity to the Sentinelese people when he traveled to North Sentinel Island, which is part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, according to a statement from International Christian Concern.

Visits there are heavily restricted by government and contact with the indigenous Andaman tribes is illegal — but Chau was able to make it to the small island on Nov. 16 with the help of some local fisherman, seven of who have been arrested for illegally ferrying the 27year-old American to one of the world's most isolated regions.

They told police they saw Sentinelese tribespeople shoot Chau with bows and arrows and then leave him on the beach, the BBC reported.

Police officer Vijay Singh said the man was killed on Saturday, but declined to provide further details. According to Indian Media, fisherman spotted his body over the weekend.

Authorities confirmed on Wednesday that they are investigating several members of the Sentinelese tribe for homicide.

“After getting relevant information, a murder case has been registered,” a senior officer told Andaman Sheekha.

Retrieving the remains may prove difficult, but officials said they are in the process of recovering them.

In 2006, a pair of fishermen, whose boat strayed too close to the island, were killed and their bodies were never recovered.