Indian police have detained a blogger who runs the Neo-Orientalist channel for illegally entering a restricted area.
Mikhail Polyakov, a U.S. citizen, planned in 2024 to reach North Sentinel Island, home to approximately 150 people and the uncontacted Sentinelese tribe. This tribe rejects all outside contact and is aggressively hostile to outsiders. The Indian government, which controls the territory, has prohibited visits and established patrols. In 2018, a tragic incident occurred when 27-year-old Allen Chau was killed by the islanders during an illegal attempt to make contact.
Polyakov was previously detained by police twice – the first time with the help of hotel staff. However, his third attempt on March 29th was successful. Polyakov traveled 35 km by inflatable boat, used a boat horn for about an hour to attract the Sentinelese, landed for five minutes, left behind a cola and a coconut, collected some sand, and then left.
Recordings from Polyakov`s camera were used as evidence in the investigation. The blogger was arrested about two days after his return, and he is expected to face criminal charges.
Finley Holt