YouTuber who trespassed North Sentinel Island where US missionary was killed arrested in India

A 24-year-old American YouTuber, Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, was arrested by Indian authorities after allegedly entering North Sentinel Island, a restricted tribal zone located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The island is globally recognized as home to the Sentinelese, one of the world’s most isolated and uncontacted tribes, who have actively resisted outside interaction for centuries. Polyakov, known on YouTube by his handle “Neo-Orientalist,” reportedly defied Indian law to stage an unauthorized visit, marking what officials say was his third attempt.

According to local police sources, Polyakov launched his solo expedition using an inflatable dinghy from Kurma Dera beach in the early hours of March 29, reaching the shores of North Sentinel Island by mid-morning. In what authorities have described as a brazen and dangerous stunt, he brought a coconut and a can of Diet Coke as symbolic “offerings” to the Sentinelese, mirroring the kind of naive contact attempts that have historically ended in tragedy. Despite his efforts, he is believed not to have interacted with any tribal members during his approximately five-minute stay. He was later spotted by local fishermen while loitering offshore in a boat for nearly an hour, triggering his arrest under Indian laws protecting tribal communities and their environments.

What laws protect North Sentinel Island and why is it off-limits?

North Sentinel Island is protected under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956, and further reinforced by the Foreigners Act of 1946. These regulations prohibit any form of contact or visitation to the island without express governmental permission, which is rarely granted due to both health and security risks. The Indian government has consistently maintained a no-contact policy to preserve the Sentinelese people’s way of life and protect them from exposure to pathogens for which they lack immunity.

The tribe’s hostility toward outsiders has long served as a natural barrier against encroachment. The dangers of violating this isolation were tragically underscored in 2018, when American missionary John Allen Chau was killed by the Sentinelese after illegally venturing onto the island to preach Christianity. That incident triggered global scrutiny of tourism-driven intrusion into protected zones and reemphasized the dangers such interactions pose to indigenous populations and outsiders alike.

Who is Mykhailo Polyakov and why did he attempt this dangerous visit?

Polyakov, a self-styled travel documentarian from Scottsdale, Arizona, has gained notoriety for posting video content that often depicts high-risk travel in unstable or dangerous regions. On his Neo-Orientalist YouTube channel, he has published a six-part video series documenting his travels through Taliban-controlled regions of Afghanistan, portraying himself as a thrill-seeking adventurer with an appetite for the extreme.

Police reports suggest that Polyakov undertook the journey to North Sentinel Island out of a “desire for extreme challenges” and a misguided sense of adventure. It was reportedly his third attempt at accessing the island, with previous efforts in October 2024 and January 2025 having been thwarted. During this latest attempt, he wore a GoPro camera to record his actions and was heard claiming to represent the United States in an “unofficial capacity,” a statement authorities say was made without any form of legal or diplomatic endorsement.

How did Indian authorities respond to the incident?

Following a tip-off from local fishermen, Indian police tracked Polyakov’s movements to his accommodation in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Investigators are currently questioning hotel staff to determine whether he had any accomplices or logistical support in planning his illegal incursion into the restricted tribal area. Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, director general of police for the islands, confirmed that a full investigation is underway to assess the broader implications of the visit and to determine if any laws were violated beyond those related to tribal protections.

Polyakov has been placed in judicial custody and is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing scheduled on April 17. He faces charges under multiple statutes, including unlawful entry into a protected area and violations of India’s Foreigners Act.

What are the global implications of this incident for indigenous rights?

The arrest has triggered renewed international discussion around the ethics and dangers of adventurism involving uncontacted tribes. Caroline Pearce, director of Survival International—a nonprofit focused on protecting the rights of tribal and indigenous communities—criticized the act as “deeply disturbing.” She underscored the continued threats to uncontacted peoples around the world, not just from thrill-seekers, but also from illegal logging, mining, and government-led infrastructure development.

Pearce cited the example of the Shompen tribe on Great Nicobar Island, warning that large-scale development projects in the region—such as proposals to turn the area into a major shipping hub akin to “the Hong Kong of India”—could lead to cultural and demographic extinction for such communities. She noted that repeated violations, even by individuals acting alone, reflect a broader governmental failure to uphold international obligations related to indigenous sovereignty and territorial integrity.

What is the historical context behind protecting the Sentinelese?

The Sentinelese are believed to have inhabited North Sentinel Island for over 60,000 years. Anthropological studies suggest they are direct descendants of some of the first human populations to migrate out of Africa. Their isolation has been preserved by natural geography and, more recently, by official legal protections.

Historically, brief contacts were made during British colonial expeditions and post-independence research missions, many of which were met with hostility or resulted in misunderstandings and illness among tribal members. After the 1990s, India formally ceased all attempts to contact the tribe, cementing a policy of passive observation through aerial monitoring and emergency-only evacuation protocols in case of natural disasters. This approach was notably maintained even after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which the Sentinelese reportedly survived with minimal disruption.

The tribe’s continued isolation is not just a matter of legal policy but also a reflection of ethical considerations regarding cultural preservation and biosecurity. Global health experts have repeatedly warned that even minor exposure to viruses such as influenza or the common cold could be lethal to the Sentinelese due to their immunological vulnerability.

How does this arrest affect future policies on tribal protection?

Polyakov’s arrest is likely to intensify calls for stricter enforcement of existing regulations, with human rights advocates urging greater vigilance at potential maritime entry points around the island. The Indian government may also face pressure to enhance surveillance technologies, including satellite and drone-based monitoring, to ensure that unauthorized approaches are intercepted more swiftly.

At the same time, this episode raises larger questions about how platforms like YouTube incentivize dangerous behavior for digital fame. Experts in social media ethics argue that monetized content driven by views and engagement often encourages risky stunts with little regard for legal or ethical boundaries. In this context, Polyakov’s case is emblematic of a broader digital trend where content creators test the limits of legality and morality in pursuit of viral success.

As digital influence continues to intersect with real-world actions, regulatory frameworks may need to evolve to hold creators accountable not just under national laws but also under platform guidelines. YouTube and other social media giants could face increasing scrutiny over their role in curating and promoting content that glamorizes illegal or culturally harmful activities.

The incident involving North Sentinel Island ultimately serves as a stark reminder that some places are not meant for exploration—and that respecting the sovereignty of uncontacted peoples is not merely a legal obligation but a moral one as well.