Polyakov set out from Kurma Dera Beach at about 1 AM on March 29, taking a boat with a coconut and a can of cola as “offerings for the Sentinelese”.
A man from the United States was arrested in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for allegedly entering the restricted area of North Sentinel Island. Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, was arrested on March 31 by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Police said that he ventured to North Sentinel Island without permission after arriving in Port Blair on March 26, reports PTI.
Polyakov set out from Kurma Dera Beach at about 1 AM on March 29, taking a boat with a coconut and a can of cola as “offerings for the Sentinelese”. He reached the northeastern shore of North Sentinel Island by 10 AM, where he used binoculars to survey the area but saw no inhabitants. After spending an hour offshore and blowing a whistle to draw attention without success, he briefly landed on the island, left the offerings, gathered sand samples, and filmed a video before returning to his boat.
He started his return trip at 1 PM and arrived back at Kurma Dera Beach around 7 PM, where local fishermen spotted him.
The Sentinelese, the indigenous people of North Sentinel Island, are a protected tribe and are known to be hostile to outsiders. In 2018, American missionary John Chau was killed by the tribe while attempting to contact them. The Sentinelese are considered one of the last uncontacted tribes in the world.
The Director General of Police (DGP) HS Dhaliwal said authorities are investigating Polyakov’s intentions and activities during his time in the islands. Police are also questioning hotel staff from his stay in Port Blair.
Police confiscated several items from Polyakov, including an inflatable boat, an outboard motor, and GPS equipment. He had reportedly researched sea conditions, tides, and the accessibility of North Sentinel Island before making the journey, police said.
Polyakov, who is of Ukrainian descent, had a GoPro camera with footage of his visit to the island. He remains in police custody for further questioning.
