BID TO RECOVER MISSIONARY’S BODY HALTED

Indian police have abandoned an attempt to recover the remains of American missionary John Allen Chau, pictured, who was killed by members of an isolated tribe, after they were confronted by islanders armed with bows and arrows.

Saturday, as the police vessel got to within 400 metres of North Sentinel Island, officers spotted the armed islanders, who were clearly prepared to fight.

“They stared at us and we were looking at them,” said Dependra Pathak, the director-general of police.

The police boat then withdrew. Authorities always take great care to avoid direct contact with the Sentinelese, a pre-neolithic group whose island is barred to visitors.

Chau’s death last week highlighted the problems of outsiders interacting with one of the world’s last secluded tribes.