Police arrested a 24-year-old US citizen, Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, for illegally entering North Sentinel Island. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took him into custody on March 31 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

How He Reached the Restricted Island

Polyakov arrived in Port Blair on March 26. A few days later, he launched his inflatable boat from Kurma Dera Beach around 1 a.m. on March 29. Notably, he carried a coconut and a can of cola as "offerings for the Sentinelese," police said.

By 10 a.m., he reached the northeastern shore of North Sentinel Island. He used binoculars to scan the area, yet he saw no one. For the next hour, he blew a whistle to attract attention. However, no one responded.

Consequently, he landed briefly for about five minutes. He left the offerings, collected sand samples, and recorded a video before returning to his boat. By 1 p.m., he began his return journey. Eventually, he reached Kurma Dera Beach at 7 p.m., where local fishermen spotted him.

Ongoing Investigation

DGP H.S. Dhaliwal told PTI, “We are gathering details about him and his motive for visiting the restricted area. Additionally, we are checking where else he traveled during his stay. Furthermore, we are questioning the hotel staff in Port Blair.”

Police seized his inflatable boat, outboard motor (OBM), GPS device, and other equipment. Since he had researched sea conditions, tides, and accessibility, authorities believe he planned the trip carefully. Moreover, he used GPS navigation throughout his journey.

His Previous Attempts to Reach the Island

This was not Polyakov’s first visit. In October last year, he tried to approach North Sentinel Island using an inflatable kayak. However, hotel staff stopped him.

Later, in January this year, he returned to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. At that time, he attempted to buy a motor for his boat. Additionally, he visited Baratang Island and illegally filmed the Jarawa tribe, police said.

Legal Action and Next Steps

Police filed an FIR under the Foreigners Act, 1946, along with sections of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Amendment Regulation, 2012. Tribal Welfare Officer Pronab Sircar lodged the complaint at the Ograbraj police station.

Meanwhile, authorities informed the Home Department, which later notified the Ministry of External Affairs and the US Embassy. Currently, Polyakov remains in police custody for further questioning.

Why is North Sentinel Island Restricted?

The Sentinelese are classified as a particularly vulnerable tribal group. They live in isolation and reject outside contact.

Historically, they have attacked and killed outsiders who attempted to approach their land. For instance, in November 2018, American missionary John Chau was killed while trying to contact them. Experts believe they are the world’s last pre-Neolithic tribe, having little to no connection with modern civilization.