A US national, Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov (24), has been arrested for allegedly trespassing into the restricted tribal reserve area of North Sentinel Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, police said on Wednesday. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took Polyakov into custody on March 31 for entering the prohibited zone without authorization.
According to officials, Polyakov arrived in Port Blair on March 26 and later set off from Kurma Dera Beach to North Sentinel Island. At approximately 1 am on March 29, he launched his boat, carrying a coconut and a can of cola as offerings for the indigenous Sentinelese people.
By 10 am, he reached the northeastern shore of North Sentinel Island and used binoculars to survey the area, but found no visible inhabitants. He remained offshore for an hour, blowing a whistle in an attempt to attract attention, but received no response. Briefly landing on the island for about five minutes, he left the offerings onshore, collected sand samples, recorded a video, and then returned to his boat. His return journey began at 1 pm, and he reached Kurma Dera Beach by 7 pm, where local fishermen spotted him.
Director General of Police (DGP) HS Dhaliwal stated, &ldquo;We are investigating his intentions and movements during his stay in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Hotel staff where he stayed in Port Blair are also being questioned.&rdquo;
Authorities seized an inflatable boat and an outboard motor (OBM), which he had assembled at a local workshop. Police noted that Polyakov had meticulously planned the journey, researching sea conditions, tides, and accessibility from Kurma Dera Beach. He used GPS navigation throughout his voyage. Additionally, a GoPro camera in his possession contained footage confirming his landing on North Sentinel Island.
This was not Polyakov&rsquo;s first visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He previously travelled to Port Blair in October last year, where he attempted reconnaissance for North Sentinel Island using an inflatable kayak but was prevented from proceeding by hotel staff. In January this year, he visited the islands again and allegedly attempted to procure a motor for his boat. During that trip, he visited Baratang Islands and reportedly filmed the indigenous Jarawa tribe illegally.
An FIR has been registered against him under the Foreigners Act, 1946, along with sections of the Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Amendment Regulation, 2012. The complaint was lodged at Ograbraj police station by Tirur Tribal Welfare Officer Pronab Sircar. His arrest has been communicated to the Home Department, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the US Embassy.
The Sentinelese, inhabitants of North Sentinel Island, are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). They belong to the broader Andamanese group and are known for their hostility toward outsiders, having killed individuals who attempted to approach their island. In November 2018, American missionary John Chau was killed when he tried to establish contact with the Sentinelese, who are considered one of the world&rsquo;s last pre-Neolithic tribes.
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John Chau, the American missionary who was killed by the Sentinelese in 2018

Mykhailo Polyakov made landfall to establish contact with the Sentinelese people

US Man Visits North Sentinel Island Illegally, Held

Mykhailo Polyakov made landfall to establish contact with the Sentinelese people

April 3, 2025 | 12:09 IST