American Tourist Detained for Entering Restricted Tribal Island in India

A 24-year-old American tourist has been apprehended in India for entering a restricted tribal area. The incident occurred on North Sentinel Island, part of the Andaman Islands, where the Sentinelese tribe resides, a group with no contact with the outside world.

The individual, identified as Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, attempted to make contact with the isolated tribe. He documented his visit, leaving a can of Coke and a coconut on the shore as a gesture. He had previously visited Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and runs a YouTube channel focused on extreme travel.

Polyakov traveled for nine hours by boat to reach the island. He used binoculars to survey the area but did not encounter any inhabitants. He attempted to gain their attention by blowing a whistle and briefly landed on the shore, collecting sand samples and recording a video before departing.

He was arrested in Port Blair after being reported to the police by locals who witnessed his boat trip to North Sentinel Island. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a former British penal colony, are located far from mainland India. The Indian government closely monitors access to remote areas, which are home to several indigenous tribes.

Access to the island is strictly prohibited to protect the indigenous people from external diseases and to safeguard their way of life. The police were alerted after locals spotted the man near a protected area. Authorities are investigating his intentions and other locations he may have visited during his stay.

The American tourist briefly landed on the shore, left offerings, collected sand samples, and recorded a video before returning to his boat. Footage from his camera confirmed his entry into the restricted area.

A formal complaint has been filed against him under the Foreigners Act and for entering a tribal reserve without permission. He had reportedly visited the islands twice the previous year. The authorities have informed the home ministry and are in contact with the US embassy.

Tribal lands are legally protected under the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, which prohibits unauthorized entry. This incident follows previous instances of unauthorized contact with the Sentinelese, including the death of an American missionary in 2018 and the killing of Indian fishermen in 2006. The navy has since enforced a buffer zone around the island.