Port Blair: A U.S. citizen has been arrested in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for allegedly trespassing into the restricted North Sentinel Island, home to the reclusive Sentinelese tribe, police confirmed on Wednesday. The accused, 24-year-old Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, was taken into custody by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) on March 31 for entering the prohibited tribal reserve without authorization.
According to police reports, Polyakov arrived in Port Blair on March 26 and embarked on a clandestine journey towards North Sentinel Island from Kurma Dera Beach. Around 1 a.m. on March 29, he set sail in a locally assembled inflatable boat, carrying only a coconut and a can of cola as "offerings" for the Sentinelese. By 10 a.m., he reached the island’s northeastern shore, where he used binoculars to search for any inhabitants but saw none. Determined to make contact, he blew a whistle repeatedly and waited for nearly an hour near the shore. When he received no response, he briefly stepped onto the island, left the offerings, collected sand samples, and recorded a video before deciding to leave. By 1 p.m., he began his return journey, reaching Kurma Dera Beach at 7 p.m., where he was spotted by local fishermen.
Investigators revealed that Polyakov had meticulously planned his journey, researching sea conditions, tides, and navigation routes from Kurma Dera Beach. He had also carried GPS equipment for precise tracking. Among the items seized from his possession were an inflatable boat and an outboard motor, a GoPro camera containing footage of his landing on the island, and additional GPS equipment. Director General of Police H.S. Dhaliwal stated, "We are investigating his intent behind visiting the restricted tribal area. We are also looking into his travel history and questioning hotel staff in Port Blair."
Further inquiries revealed that this was not Polyakov’s first attempt to reach North Sentinel Island. In October 2023, he visited Port Blair and attempted a reconnaissance trip to the island using an inflatable kayak, but was stopped by hotel staff. In January 2024, he tried to procure a motor for his boat and traveled to the Baratang Islands, where he allegedly filmed the indigenous Jarawa tribe illegally.
Following his arrest, an FIR was registered against Polyakov under The Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Amendment Regulation, 2012. Authorities have also notified the Home Department, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the U.S. Embassy about his arrest.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the Sentinelese, one of the world’s most isolated tribes, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). The tribe is known for its hostility towards outsiders, and the Indian government strictly prohibits access to North Sentinel Island to protect both the Sentinelese people and potential intruders from conflict and disease transmission. In November 2018, American missionary John Chau was killed while attempting to establish contact with the tribe.
Polyakov remains in police custody as investigations continue.
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