Interview: Releasing Nicobar report would be like ‘opening can of worms’, says anthropologist Interview: Releasing Nicobar report would be like ‘opening can of worms’, says anthropologist A largely uncontacted tribe of about 250 people, the Shompens live on the Great Nicobar island, the southernmost landmass of India. In 2021, the Modi government announced plans to develop a massive infrastructural project on the island at a cost of Rs 72,000 crore, which many fear could endanger the island’s native tribal communities and unique flora and fauna.