An American wielding a can of cola has reportedly been arrested after attempting to visit North Sentinel Island in the Indian Ocean , base to the Sentinelese hoi polloi , one of the most stray and vulnerable folk in the world . Experts have described the vitrine as “ heedless and ridiculous ” .
The man , a 24 - year - old US national called Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov , was consider into hands by India ’s Crime Investigation Department after reaching the northeastern shoring of North Sentinel Island at 10 am on March 29 , accord toThe New Indian Express .
He reportedly set sail in a small boat from Kurma Dera beach on South Andaman Island at 1 am that aurora , embarking on a treacherous 38 - kilometer ( 23 - mile ) journey across the sea .
police force said he arrived carrying a cocoanut and a can of cola as " offerings for the Sentinelese " . They lay claim he mill around in his boat near the island ’s shore for an time of day , sounding a whistle in Leslie Townes Hope of drawing aid from the Sentinelese , but no response fare . Briefly stepping onto the island for no more than five moment , he target his " offering " on the shore , pull together moxie samples , and tape a telecasting before return to his boat .
Access to North Sentinel Island is strictly prohibited by Indian authority to protectthe Sentinelese , an autochthonous tribe in voluntary closing off on the island . They are nomadic , hunter - accumulator people who have lived on North Sentinel Island for thousands of years . Based on reports from hoi polloi who have observed the island from afar , it ’s consider that 100 or so individual live on the island , rive into three main groups .
Given their extreme closing off from the wider world , next to nothing is known about how they live . However , they have made it very clear that they wish to be left alone .
The group made headlines in 2018 when John Allen Chau , a Christian missioner from the US , lawlessly obtrude onto their island , where he was killedby a bow and arrow . There was another incident in 2006 when two Indian fisher , Sunder Raj and Pandit Tiwari , had moor their boat near North Sentinel Island to sleep after poach in the waters around the island . Their boat drifted ashore and the sailors were killed by the Sentinelese .
In the viewing of the devastating tsunami that rock the Indian Ocean in December 2014 , the Indian National Coast used a helicopter to scout the island to see if the residential district needed assistance . All they saw was an individual haunt their helicopter and attempt to strike it with arrows .
These incident follow ten of attempted contact by the Indian administration and others . Some of these relations are believed to have resulted in the Sentinelese accrue inauspicious from disease to which they have no granting immunity .
Polyakov ’s alleged endeavour to get to North Sentinel Island has reignite concerns about the strength of limitation design to protect the Sentinelese . While no direct striking was apparently made , the incident shows that individuals are still managing to reach the island . endemic and tribal rights group contend this should serve as a wake - up call for authorities to strengthen enforcement and guard one of the world ’s most vulnerable tribe before it ’s too late .
“ It beggars belief that someone could be that reckless and ludicrous . This soul ’s actions not only endangered his own spirit , they put the life of the total Sentinelese tribe at risk . It ’s very well screw by now that uncontacted peoples have no immunity to common away disease like grippe or measles , which could completely wipe them out , ” Caroline Pearce , Director of Survival International , said in astatement .
“ It ’s good news that the military man in this latest incident has been arrest , but deep disturbing that he was reportedly able-bodied to get onto the island in the first plaza . The Indian authority have a effectual province to insure that the Sentinelese are secure from missionaries , social media influencers , people angle lawlessly in their weewee , and anyone else who may adjudicate to make contact with them . "
