An American is believed to have been killed by an isolated Indian island tribe that is known to fire at outsiders with bows and arrows, police said Wednesday.

Police officer Vijay Singh said the killing apparently occurred on North Sentinel Island, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Sentinelese people who live there on are known to resist all contact with outsiders, often attacking anyone who comes near.

Mr John Chau, 27, had taken a boat ride with local fishermen before venturing alone in a canoe to the remote North Sentinel Island where the indigenous people live cut off completely from the outside world.

As soon as he set foot on the island, Mr Chau found himself facing a flurry of arrows, official sources told AFP.

Local media have reported that he wanted to meet the tribe to preach Christianity to them.

"Police said Chau had previously visited North Sentinel island about four or five times with the help of local fishermen," journalist Subir Bhaumik, who has been covering the islands for years, told BBC Hindi.