A YouTube influencer has been arrested after visiting North Sentinel Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where he attempted to make contact with indigenous people despite restrictions. Mykhailo Polyakov, 24, from Arizona, was reportedly trying to offer coconuts and a can of Diet Coke as “offerings” for the Sentinelese people.
According to local police, Polyakov had visited the island three times before, motivated by his passion for adventure and extreme challenges. He wore a GoPro camera claiming unofficial representation of the US while entering the island’s shore. Despite staying on the island for five minutes, collecting samples, and recording video footage, he did not make contact with any indigenous people.
The Sentinelese people have been protected from outsiders due to their isolated way of life. The incident echoes a 2018 case where an American missionary was killed by the tribe after attempting to convert them to Christianity.
Caroline Pearce, director of Survival International, described Polyakov’s actions as “deeply disturbing” and warned that uncontacted indigenous peoples across the globe are facing invasion of their lands on a large scale. The influencer is currently in judicial custody with a hearing scheduled for April 17.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/us/youtube-daredevil-arrested-indian-authorities-after-visiting-remote-island-where-us-missionary-killed