Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands – A 24-year-old American tourist of Ukrainian origin, Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, was arrested after illegally entering the highly restricted North Sentinel Island, home to one of the world’s most isolated and dangerous tribes, the Sentinelese.
The Sentinelese tribe has had no contact with the outside world for decades and are known to be extremely hostile to any intruders. Outsiders are strictly banned from entering the island by Indian law.
What Did the Tourist Do?
According to local police, Polyakov left from a beach in South Andaman around midnight on March 29, carrying only a coconut and a can of soda. He called them “offerings for the Sentinelese.” His goal was to make contact with the tribe.
By 10 a.m., he reached the north shore of North Sentinel Island — the very same area where American missionary John Allen Chau was killed by the tribe in 2018. Chau’s body was never recovered.
Luckily for Polyakov, the tribe completely ignored him.
Tried to Get Attention, But Failed
Police say Polyakov used a whistle and binoculars to try to spot or attract the Sentinelese from his boat. He then landed on the island for about five minutes, during which he left the soda and coconut, took sand samples, and recorded a video using a GoPro camera.
He returned to the resort area by 7 p.m., where local fishermen saw him and reported the incident to the authorities.
Not His First Illegal Trip
This wasn’t Polyakov’s first attempt to approach protected tribes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Past Violations:
- In January, he illegally filmed the Jarawa tribe in the Baratang Islands.
- In October, he tried to reach North Sentinel using an inflatable kayak, but hotel staff stopped him.
Police say he had been carefully researching tides, sea conditions, and entry points to the island, suggesting the trip was planned in advance.
Charges Filed Under Indian Law
Polyakov has been charged under the Foreigners Act of 1946 for entering a protected tribal area without permission. His actions also violate the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation, 1956, which strictly bans any contact with such tribes.
Why Is North Sentinel Island Off-Limits?
The Sentinelese people, one of five notified tribes in the region, are completely isolated and have no immunity to modern diseases. Even a simple flu virus could be deadly to them. For this reason, the Indian government has banned all access to protect both the tribe and potential visitors.