A U.S. national was arrested in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for allegedly entering the prohibited tribal reserve area of North Sentinel Island, police said on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

A U.S. national was arrested in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for allegedly entering the prohibited tribal reserve area of North Sentinel Island, police said on Wednesday (April 2, 2025).

Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov (24) was arrested by the CID on March 31. He allegedly entered North Sentinel Island without authorisation, they said.

He arrived in Port Blair on March 26 and ventured to North Sentinel Island from the Kurma Dera beach, they said.

He launched his boat from Kurma Dera beach around 1 a.m. on March 29, carrying a coconut and a can of cola as “offerings for the Sentinelese,” police said.

Polyakov reached the northeastern shore of North Sentinel Island by 10 a.m. Using binoculars, he surveyed the area but saw no inhabitants, they said.

He remained offshore for an hour, blowing a whistle to attract attention, but received no response.

He landed briefly for about five minutes, left the offerings on the shore, collected sand samples, and recorded a video before returning to his boat, police said.

Spotted by locals

At 1 p.m., he started his return journey and reached Kurma Dera Beach by 7 p.m., where he was spotted by local fishermen, they said.

DGP HS Dhaliwal told PTI, “We are getting more details about him and his intention to visit the reserved tribal area. We are also trying to find where else he went during his stay in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. We are questioning the hotel staff where he was staying in Port Blair.” Among the items seized from him were an inflatable boat and an outboard motor, or OBM, which he had assembled at a local workshop.

Police said he had planned his journey meticulously and conducted research on sea conditions, tides, and accessibility from the Kurma Dera beach.

He used GPS navigation throughout his voyage, they said.

Polyakov, whose father is of Ukrainian origin, was found in possession of a GoPro camera, and its footage showed him landing on North Sentinel Island, police said.

He is at present in police custody on the direction of a court for further interrogation.

Police said this was not his first visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

He visited Port Blair in October last year, and attempted to approach North Sentinel Island using an inflatable kayak but was stopped by hotel staff.

He also visited the islands in January this year, and attempted to procure a motor for his boat. During that visit, he went to the Baratang Islands and allegedly illegally videographed the Jarawa tribe, police said.

FIR registered

An FIR was registered against him under the Foreigners Act, 1946, along with sections of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Amendment Regulation, 2012, on the basis of a complaint lodged at the Ograbraj police station by the Tribal Welfare Officer of Tirur, Pronab Sircar.

His arrest was communicated to the Home Department for further communication to the Ministry of External Affairs and the US Embassy, police said.

The Sentinelese, who inhabit the North Sentinel Island, are designated as a particularly vulnerable tribal group. They belong to the broader class of Andamanese people.