YouTuber Arrested for Offering Coke to Isolated Tribe in India

Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, a 24-year-old American YouTuber from Scottsdale, Arizona, was arrested in India after illegally visiting the restricted North Sentinel Island, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He reportedly left a Diet Coke can and a coconut as offerings to the Sentinelese tribe, known for their hostility towards outsiders. Polyakov was taken into custody on March 31 and has been placed in judicial custody for 14 days, facing charges that could lead to five years in prison. Visitors are strictly prohibited from approaching within three miles of the island due to the tribe's isolation and past violent encounters with intruders. The Indian government has emphasized the need to protect the Sentinelese, who have requested to be left undisturbed. Concerns have been raised about the impact of social media on uncontacted tribes, highlighting the risks posed by such reckless actions.