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Indian authorities announced on Thursday the arrest of a U.S. tourist who unlawfully ventured onto a highly controlled island, bringing with him a coconut and a Diet Coke to a community that remains largely unengaged with the modern world. This event recurs seven years after another American was fatally shot by the island’s indigenous inhabitants.
The individual, identified as Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, illegally accessed North Sentinel Island — part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands — with the aim of interacting with the Sentinelese, a tribe with an estimated population of merely 150 individuals.
The Indian government has instituted strict regulations that prohibit all outsiders, including both foreign nationals and Indian citizens, from approaching within three miles of the island. These measures are intended to safeguard the tribe from external diseases and to maintain their traditional lifestyle.
“The American citizen was presented before the local court following his apprehension and has been placed on a three-day remand for further questioning,” stated police chief HGS Dhaliwal to AFP.
Satellite imagery reveals a picturesque island surrounded by coral reefs, approximately six miles wide at its broadest point, characterized by dense forests and pristine beaches.
The last significant media attention directed towards the Sentinelese occurred in 2018 when John Allen Chau, a 27-year-old American missionary, was killed after illegally landing on their territory. His remains were never recovered due to Indian laws that prevent any expeditions to the island, and it was reported that he met his demise by arrows from the tribe.
Geopolitically, India recognizes the importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are strategically located near vital global shipping routes and closer to Myanmar than mainland India. In response, New Delhi has earmarked at least $9 billion for the enhancement of naval and air facilities, troop housing, ports, and urban development in the region.
“Reckless and irresponsible”
Police chief Dhaliwal disclosed that Polyakov attempted to attract the tribe’s attention by blowing a whistle off the coast of North Sentinel Island for about an hour before making his landing.
“He briefly went ashore for approximately five minutes, left some items on the beach, gathered sand samples, and recorded a video before departing in his boat. A review of footage from his GoPro camera confirmed his presence on the prohibited North Sentinel Island,” Dhaliwal detailed.
Authorities arrested Polyakov late on Monday, roughly two days post-disembarkation, noting he had previously attempted to reach the island during two prior visits—one in October 2024, which was thwarted by hotel staff, and another during a visit in January 2025.
This recent attempt utilized a motorized inflatable boat to traverse the roughly 22 miles of open sea from the main archipelago.
The organization Survival International released a statement, condemning Polyakov’s behavior as “deeply disturbing.” Carolina Pearce, the director of the organization, expressed astonishment at his recklessness, stating, “It’s hard to comprehend how anyone could act so irresponsibly. His actions not only posed a threat to his own life but also jeopardized the safety of the entire Sentinelese tribe. It’s widely recognized that uncontacted peoples lack immunity to common diseases such as flu or measles, which could potentially devastate them.”
The Sentinelese maintain their linguistic and cultural practices as a mystery to the outside world and typically reject all contact, often responding with hostility to intruders. A well-known image from two decades ago depicts a Sentinelese archer targeting a helicopter with a bow.
Indian authorities have taken legal action against locals who have assisted attempts to access the island and are working to identify anyone who may have facilitated Polyakov’s entry.
The Andaman Islands also host the Jarawa tribe, consisting of around 400 members, who are similarly at risk from external influences. Activists have reported unauthorized tourist efforts to bribe local officials for an opportunity to engage with the Jarawa.
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