YouTuber Arrested for Attempting to Contact Isolated Tribe in the Indian Ocean

Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, attempted to establish contact with the uncontacted Sentinelese tribe on North Sentinel Island, leading to his arrest by Indian authorities.

An adventurous 24-year-old American, Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, made headlines recently after he was detained by Indian authorities for attempting to make contact with the remote Sentinelese tribe. The incident occurred on March 29 when Polyakov set off in an inflatable boat toward North Sentinel Island, known for its isolation and strict regulations against outside interaction.

Packing a Diet Coke and a coconut as offerings, as well as a GoPro camera to document the expedition, Polyakov navigated using GPS to locate the northeastern shore of the island. However, upon arrival, he could not spot any members of the tribe. Undeterred, he went ashore, leaving the beverages as gifts, collecting sand samples, and filming his experience.

Polyakov was apprehended on March 31 upon his return to Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a group of islands over 800 miles from the Indian mainland. Authorities have emphasized the illegality of visiting North Sentinel, which is home to a tribe that has a long history of resisting outside contact, often with deadly force. This serves as a warning, in light of previous encounters, such as the tragic death of American missionary John Allen Chau, who attempted to contact the tribe in 2018 and was reported to have been killed by its members.

The case has reignited debates about the preservation of indigenous cultures and governmental restrictions on interaction with such isolated groups.