New Delhi, December 1: The Andaman and Nicobar police believe John Allen Chau, a 26-year-old American missionary who was killed by the protected Sentinelese tribe, was encouraged by two other American missionaries to visit Sentinel island. According to the police, role of the two American suspects, who had left India, was being investigated. Meanwhile, the body of John Allen Chau remains missing.

"We are investigating the role of at least two Americans, a man and a woman, who met with the man who went to the island," Dependra Pathak, head of police in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, told AFP. "These other two, who have since left the country, were reportedly into evangelical activities and encouraged him to visit the island," Pathak added. The identity of the duo was not revealed by the police. American Killed by Sentinelese Tribe on Andaman Island Was Christian Missionary; All About John Allen Chau's Entry Into Restricted Island.

According to Pathak, the police came to know about the suspect couple while checking phone records of Chau. The Americans had "local mobile numbers", he added. Police have so far arrested seven people, including six fishermen who helped Chau get to North Sentinel island in the Andamans. The fishermen reported Chau's death. They have done three reconnaissance trips near the island.

"Now it is about two weeks since the incident and it doesn't look likely that the American's body will be exhumed, wherever the islanders may have buried it," Pathak was quoted as saying. Chau was reportedly killed last month in a hail of arrows fired by the Sentinelese tribe. An official of the Ministry of Home Affairs earlier said that Chau had violated several rules governing tourists' visit to restricted areas, which put his life to risk.

The official said the exact reason for Chau's visit to the North Sentinel Island is not known yet beyond the fact that he was an adventure sports person and that his purpose to get there was not religious conversion.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 01, 2018 08:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).