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United States National Arrested for Unauthorized Visit to North Sentinel Island

- K Yadagiri Rao

Port Blair, April 02: A United States national has been arrested for illegally attempting to access the highly restricted North Sentinel Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. The accused, identified as Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, son of Victor Polyakov, and a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, was taken into custody following an investigation by local authorities.

According to official sources, the case was registered based on a complaint filed by the Tribal Welfare Officer under PS Crime & Economic Offences FIR No. 10/25 dated March 31, 2025. The charges have been framed under Sections 14 and 14(A) of the Foreigners Act, 1946, read with paragraph 3 of the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963, along with Sections 7 and 8 of the Protection of Aboriginal Tribes (PAT) Amendment Regulation, 2012, an official press release says.

Violation of Strict Restrictions

North Sentinel Island is home to the Sentinelese, one of the world's last uncontacted tribes, who have lived in isolation for thousands of years. In order to protect their indigenous way of life and prevent the spread of diseases to which they have no immunity, the Indian government strictly prohibits any access to the island.

Authorities stated that Polyakov willfully violated these restrictions and undertook an unauthorized journey to the island in an attempt to interact with the Sentinelese people. His actions not only breached Indian law but also posed a potential risk to both himself and the island's inhabitants.

Passion for Extreme Adventures

During the investigation, Polyakov reportedly admitted that he was drawn to the island due to his passion for adventure and extreme challenges. He was particularly fascinated by the mystique surrounding the Sentinelese people and sought to make contact with them despite knowing the legal and ethical implications of such an attempt.

The incident has raised fresh concerns over unauthorized access to protected tribal areas, particularly by foreign nationals seeking dangerous encounters with isolated communities.

Diplomatic Notification and Further Action

Following Polyakov's arrest, an official intimation was conveyed to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the U.S. Embassy in India. The U.S. authorities are expected to monitor developments closely as Indian law enforcement continues its investigation.

Legal experts suggest that if convicted, Polyakov could face significant penalties, including imprisonment and deportation. This case serves as a stern warning to adventurers and outsiders attempting to intrude upon protected indigenous territories.

Further investigations are ongoing to ascertain whether the accused had any accomplices or received assistance in breaching the island's restrictions. Officials have reiterated that stringent legal actions will be taken against any individual found violating the protective laws governing North Sentinel Island.

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