AKIPRESS.COM - An American national has been killed, allegedly by an endangered tribe in India's Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Seven fishermen, who illegally ferried the man to North Sentinel island, home to the isolated Sentinelese tribe, have been arrested, police say.

Access to the island is heavily restricted and contact with the tribes is not allowed, BBC reported.

The Sentinelese, numbering fewer than 50 in all, have always attacked those approaching the islands.

Local media have reported that the US national was a missionary who wanted to meet the tribe to preach Christianity to them. He has been identified as John Allen Chau.

"Police said Chau had previously visited the North Sentinel island about four or five times with the help of local fishermen," senior journalist Subir Bhowmik told BBC Hindi.

"The number of people belonging to the Sentinelese tribe is so low, they don't even understand how to use money. It's in fact illegal to have any sort of contact with them."

In 2017, the Indian government also said taking photographs or making videos of the aboriginal Andaman tribes would be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years.