American arrested for attempting contact with Sentinelese tribe on restricted island
An American citizen tried to make contact with the isolated Sentinelese tribe and was detained by Indian authorities, now facing an investigation.
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24-year-old U.S. citizen Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov was arrested by Indian police after illegally entering the restricted territory of North Sentinel Island, according to The Times of India.
The incident occurred on March 29, 2025. Polyakov arrived in Port Blair with an inflatable boat and a Suzuki motor, studied tides and sea conditions, and then set off from Kurma Dera Beach toward the island.
According to police, around 10 a.m., he reached the northeastern shore of the island, left coconuts and Diet Coke cans as offerings, shot a short video, and collected sand samples. He did not see any Sentinelese, but stayed offshore for about an hour, sending signals. A GoPro with footage confirming the visit was seized from him.
Polyakov had previously visited India twice—in October 2024 and January 2025—when he attempted to explore the area around the island, illegally filmed the Jarawa tribe, and inquired about boat motors.
He told police he is a “thrill-seeker” and had earlier traveled to Afghanistan to meet with Taliban members. His motives remain unclear, and the investigation is ongoing.
Background
North Sentinel is a restricted island in the Bay of Bengal and part of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The island is home to the Sentinelese tribe—one of the last remaining communities completely isolated from modern civilization. They aggressively reject any contact, making encounters extremely dangerous.
Indian authorities prohibit approaching the island within 5 kilometers to protect the tribe from potential infections to which they have no immunity.
The area is regularly patrolled, and any unauthorized access is considered a legal violation.
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