Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
American Tourist Arrested for Intrusion on North Sentinel Island, Home to Isolated Tribe
An American tourist has been apprehended in India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands for allegedly entering a restricted tribal area on remote North Sentinel Island. The tourist purportedly left a soft drink can as an ‘offering’ for the Sentinelese tribe, considered the world’s most isolated population.
Unauthorized Voyage to Prohibited Zone
Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, was arrested on Monday in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after authorities claim he illegally accessed the prohibited tribal reserve of North Sentinel Island without official permission.
Polyakov arrived in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, on March 26. Three days later, he embarked on a journey from Kurma Dera Beach, traversing approximately 25 miles across the strait to reach North Sentinel Island on a makeshift vessel.
Surveillance and ‘Offerings’ on Forbidden Shores
The tourist reached the northeastern coast of the forbidden island around 10 a.m. on Saturday. He reportedly used binoculars to observe the terrain for any indications of inhabitants.
For about an hour, Polyakov attempted to attract attention by blowing a whistle from his inflatable boat, but received no response from the island.
According to police sources via The Press Trust of India, Polyakov briefly disembarked on the island for approximately five minutes. During this time, he allegedly collected samples, recorded video footage, and deposited a soda can and a coconut as ‘offerings for the Sentinelese people’.
Sentinelese Tribe: Vulnerable and Isolated
The Sentinelese tribe, residing on North Sentinel Island, are classified as a particularly vulnerable group. They are known for their hostility towards outsiders and have historically killed individuals who have neared or landed on their island.
Experts have described Polyakov’s attempted visit as ‘deeply concerning,’ emphasizing that his actions not only endangered himself but also posed a significant threat of disease transmission to the Sentinelese tribe, potentially leading to their decimation from common illnesses like measles or influenza.
Detailed Account of the Incursion
Polyakov departed Kurma Dera Beach at approximately 1 a.m. on March 29, utilizing GPS navigation to reach North Sentinel Island at around 10 a.m.
Police suggest his excursion into the restricted territory was carefully planned, alleging that the tourist studied maritime conditions, tides, and entry points before initiating his voyage.
He returned to the beach around 7 p.m. on the same day. Local fishermen observed him and subsequently alerted the police about his activities.
Polyakov was subsequently arrested, and authorities confiscated his boat, an outboard motor, and a GoPro camera containing video evidence of his landing on the prohibited island.
The Director General of Police for Andaman and Nicobar Islands stated that investigators are gathering further information regarding Polyakov’s motivations for visiting the reserved tribal area.
Investigators are also attempting to ascertain other locations Polyakov may have visited during his stay in the region and are questioning hotel staff in Port Blair where he was accommodated.
Indian authorities strictly prohibit visits to North Sentinel Island to safeguard the Sentinelese tribe from external hazards.
Expert Condemnation and Historical Context
Caroline Pearce, director of the indigenous rights organization Survival International, denounced Polyakov’s attempt to access the island as ‘reckless and idiotic’.
In a statement, Pearce asserted, “This individual’s actions not only jeopardized his own well-being but endangered the lives of the entire Sentinelese tribe. It is widely understood that uncontacted populations lack immunity to common external diseases such as influenza or measles, which could have devastating consequences.”
Past Tragedy: The Case of John Chau
Pearce emphasized that the Sentinelese have consistently demonstrated their desire to avoid contact with outsiders, referencing the 2018 killing of American missionary John Chau by the tribe.
John Chau, 26, was fatally attacked with arrows upon reaching North Sentinel Island in November 2018. He had persistently attempted to engage with the Sentinelese to proselytize about Christianity, an endeavor his friend admitted Chau knew was inappropriate.
Fishermen who facilitated Chau’s transport reported that the tribe tied a rope around his neck and dragged his body away. His remains have not been recovered from the island.
Chau underwent missionary training at All Nations International headquarters in Kansas City, commencing in October 2017, before embarking on his mission.
This organization adheres to the belief that disseminating the word of God to ‘all nations’ will precipitate the second coming of Jesus and actively strives to achieve this objective.
The missionary had previously visited the Andaman Islands, including North Sentinel Island, in 2015 and 2016. His objective was to re-establish contact to cultivate a long-term relationship with the indigenous people and, if feasible, gain acceptance to reside among them.
He orchestrated his 2018 expedition to the island via a friend who contracted seven fishermen for $325 to transport him by boat, also towing his kayak. His initial outreach attempt occurred on November 15.
Chau paddled towards the shore in his kayak and instructed the fishermen’s boat to retreat to sea to avoid detection.
Undeterred by initial encounters, he returned shortly after, attempting to approach the beach on foot bearing gifts, including a football and fish, for the tribespeople.
He was again met with hostility, chased back into the surf, and forced to swim back to the waiting fishermen.
Despite the tribe’s animosity, he persisted and returned on two more occasions, ultimately meeting a fatal end during his final attempt.
Call for Protection and Ongoing Investigation
Pearce commented on Polyakov’s arrest, stating on Wednesday, “It is positive news that this individual has been arrested, yet deeply troubling that he reportedly managed to access the island at all.”
“Indian authorities bear a legal obligation to ensure the safety of the Sentinelese from missionaries, social media figures, illegal fishermen in their waters, and anyone else attempting unauthorized contact.”
As of Wednesday, Polyakov remained in custody for further interrogation. The US Embassy, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Home Department have been informed of his arrest.
The American tourist had previously visited Port Blair in October of the previous year, intending to sail to North Sentinel Island using an inflatable kayak, but was intercepted by hotel personnel.
He returned to the region in January of this year and attempted to acquire a motor for his boat. Police indicate that he visited the Baratang Islands during that trip and allegedly illicitly recorded video of the Jarawa tribe.
MailOnline has sought comments from police and the US Embassy in India.
The Sentinelese: A Glimpse into an Isolated World
The Sentinelese are considered the world’s last pre-Neolithic tribe and have a history of aggression towards outsiders, having attacked nearly every individual entering their territory.
Due to their rejection of the outside world, limited information is available about them, including their self-designation.
Existing knowledge is primarily derived from observations from vessels stationed at a distance and from rare instances when the tribe permitted authorities to approach closely enough to receive coconuts. Tribesmen are typically seen carrying spears, bows, and arrows.
The Sentinelese garnered international attention following the 2004 Asian tsunami, when a tribesman was photographed on a beach, shooting arrows at a helicopter conducting a welfare assessment.
North Sentinel Island remains off-limits even to the Indian navy to protect its reclusive inhabitants, estimated to number around 150 individuals.
Campaigns by non-profit and local organizations have led the Indian government to abandon prior plans for establishing contact with the Sentinelese.
Indian law prohibits any contact with the tribe, with penalties including imprisonment of up to three years for photographing or filming aboriginal Andaman tribes.
Survival International advocates for continued isolation, asserting that the Sentinelese have thrived on the small forested island – approximately the size of Manhattan – for up to 55,000 years.
Sentinelese women adorn themselves with fiber strings around their waists, necks, and heads. Men also wear necklaces and headbands, but with thicker waist belts.
From afar, they appear healthy and prosperous, with observers noting the presence of numerous children and pregnant women at times.
According to Survival International, the Sentinelese engage in hunting and gathering in the forest and fishing in coastal waters using narrow outrigger canoes, suitable only for shallow waters and propelled with poles.