Andaman and Nicobar North Sentinel Island: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the center of attraction among tourists due to their rich natural beauty. However, tourists are not allowed to visit all the islands in the region. North Sentinel, the residence of tribal people, is an island where no one is allowed to go. Recently an American citizen was arrested for illegally entering the island. The island has been prohibited since 1997.
What happened?
The 24 -year -old American man Mikhilo Victorvich Polykov was arrested on 31 March. The reason for this was that he had entered the restricted Northern Sentinel Islands of Andaman and Nicobar. Mikhailo arrived in Port Blair on 26 March. On March 29, at around 1 pm, he took a boat from Kurma Dera Beach and left for the North Sentinel Island alone. He took a coconut and a can coola (drink) with him as a gift to the residents of Sentinel Island.
The next day by 10 am, Mykhileo reached the north-eastern coast of the Northern Sentinel Island. Going there, he looked around with binoculars, but he did not see any tribal. He spent a few hours on the island, even whistle to attract the attention of the local people, but his efforts did not succeed. Then at one o’clock in the afternoon, Mikhailo started his return journey. When he reached Kurma Dera beach at 7 pm, local fishermen saw him. He was then arrested.
What details were found in the police investigation?
Police investigation revealed that Mikhailo used the GPS navigation system to reach the restricted island. After finding no tribal on the island, he left the goods brought for them and returned. He brought some sand with him. He also made a video of the journey there. Police seized his boat, mobile, Gopro camera and other items. The police is investigating whether Mikhailo had only visited the prohibited island or had any other intention. Mikhailo’s father is of Ukrainian origin.
Was also visited earlier.
During the police interrogation, Mikhailo admitted that he had visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands earlier. He visited Port Blair in October last year. Nevertheless, he tried to reach the Northern Sentinel Island using an inflatable kayak, but the hotel staff stopped him.
Secretly made videos of tribals
He then came here again in January 2025. He then went to Baratang Island. He has been accused of illegally making videos of Jarwa tribe on the island. On this issue, the Tirur Tribal Welfare Officer Pranab Sarkar had also lodged a police complaint against him. An FIR was registered against him under the ‘Foreign Act, 1946’.
Why is there a ban on the Northern Santinal Island?
Special laws have been enacted to protect tribal communities in India. A law called ‘Tribal Conservation Amendment Regulations, 2012’ has also been enacted, especially for the tribals of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, under which the existence of tribes living on the North Sentinel Island is classified as a ‘sensitive tribal group’. Therefore, the Government of India has banned the North Sentinel Island so that outsiders do not go there and affect the lives of local tribes in any way.
How dangerous are the Northern Sentinel tribes?
Northern Sentinel tribes, called ‘Sentinelies’, are very sensitive to external intervention on their islands. Not only this, they kill illegal people there. In November 2018, he went there to meet an American missionary tribes named John Chow, and was also murdered. There have been many cases in the past where outsiders tried to contact the Sentineli people and lost their lives. Therefore, one of the reasons to prevent outsiders from coming to the island is also their protection. In short, this restriction is for the protection of both tribals and outsiders.
What type of life does Santinelies live?
- Sentinelies are considered to be the world’s last pre-Filistini tribe. Let’s take a look at their lifestyle.
- Sentineli people live in temporary huts. Slums that have a oblique roof made of four wooden pillars and leaves. They wear simple clothes, which are mainly made of tree bark. Men keep a dagger in their waist. – Most men remain naked. They wear necklaces and strips on the head.
- The centuries lead a hunter-struggle life. Their diet is mainly wild boar, turtles and fish. Cabde and other creatures living in mud are also their food. They also eat fruits, roots and tubers in their diet.
- They go into water with the help of dongs (a type of boat) to hunt fish and turtles, while for hunting they use bow, arrows and spears. These weapons are made from metal found in ships residues.
- Centrally people live community lives. They have a strong family spirit. Their communities are mutually helpful.
- Sentineli people have deep knowledge of the geography of their island, marine nature and ecosystem.
- Since the Sentineli people are aggressive to outsiders, it is difficult to contact them directly. so, They Information about which language speaks, or in which name your community calls, has not been found till date.
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