Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — An American man has been arrested by Indian authorities after illegally attempting to make contact with the Sentinelese, one of the world’s most isolated and vulnerable tribes live in North Sentinel Island in the Indian Ocean.
According to The New Indian Express, 24-year-old Mykhailo Viktorovych Palyakov was detained by India’s Crime Investigation Department after reaching the island’s northeastern shore at around 10 a.m. on March 29, 2025. The young content creator reportedly used a GoPro camera in an attempt to document his encounter.
Palyakov is said to have launched a solo voyage from Kurma Dera beach on South Andaman Island at 1 a.m. local time, navigating more than 38 kilometers across open waters in a small boat. Police reported that he brought coconuts and a can of cola as a gifts, hoping to appease the reclusive tribe.
Authorities reported that he spent about an hour anchored near the island’s shoreline, blowing a whistle to attract the attention of the Sentinelese tribe. When there was no response, he briefly stepped onto the beach, placed the offerings, collected sand samples which he said as a “souvenir”, recorded video footage, and returned to his boat.
Two days later, Palyakov was arrested upon returning to Port Blair, the capital of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Police confirmed that this was not his first attempt to approach the island.
In October last year, he reportedly tried to reach North Sentinel Island using an inflatable kayak but was stopped by staff at the hotel where he was staying. This time, authorities believe Palyakov had thoroughly planned the mission, studying ocean conditions, tidal schedules, and access routes.
He is currently facing charges under India’s laws protecting Indigenous tribes, which prohibit all unauthorized contact with the Sentinelese. He is due to appear in court on April 17 and could face up to five years in prison and a fine if convicted. Authorities have seized footage from his GoPro as evidence.
North Sentinel Island
North Sentinel Island has been off-limits to outsiders for decades under Indian law in order to safeguard the Sentinelese, a hunter-gatherer tribe believed to have lived in isolation for thousands of years. Estimated to number around 100 individuals, the tribe is known for its hostility toward outsiders and has violently repelled intrusions using spears and arrows.
Little is known about their language, culture, or survival strategies due to the tribe’s complete refusal of outside contact. Any exposure to modern pathogens could prove devastating to the Sentinelese, who have no immunity to common diseases.
Read Also:
Lamaholot Tribe Lewak Tapo Ritual: A Mystical Tradition to Uncover the Cause of Death
Indian authorities have tightened regulations, banning photography and videography near the island and enforcing no-contact zones to prevent exploitation or contamination.
The island gained international attention in 2018 when American missionary John Allen Chau was killed by the tribe after illegally attempting to convert them to Christianity.
Concerns Over Sentinel Island Protection
While Palyakov reportedly did not make direct contact with any tribe members, his actions have raised alarms among Indigenous rights advocates, who argue that such intrusions threaten the fragile existence of one of the last uncontacted peoples on Earth.
Indigenous rights groups argue that the incident should serve as a critical warning to authorities, urging stronger enforcement of existing laws to protect one of the world’s most vulnerable tribes before it’s too late.
The incident underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing curiosity, content creation, and the critical need to respect the autonomy and safety of uncontacted tribes.
(Raidi/Agung)
