An American tourist was arrested for entering an island isolated isolated is carrying a diet coke and a coconut, Indian police announced on Thursday.
The 24-year-old man entered the North Sentinel Island, which is part of the Andaman and Nicobar islands off the south-eastern coast of India.
He wanted to meet the sentinel people, who are not touched by the modern world.
In total around 150, the Sentileiss all avoid contact with the outside world and are known to launch lances on anyone who is closer. Their language and culture remain a mystery for foreigners.
Visit recorded on the GoPro camera
The tourist would have used an inflatable boat with an engine to travel around 35 kilometers (22 miles) in the outdoor sea from the main island to the restricted area.
Indians and foreign nationals are prohibited from traveling less than five kilometers from North Sentinel Island to protect indigenous peoples from diseases and preserve their lifestyle.
“He landed briefly for about five minutes, left the offerings on the shore, collected sand samples and recorded a video before returning to his boat. An examination of his images of GoPro cameras showed his entry and his landing on the restricted island of North Sentinel,” said Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Police Hgs Dhaliwal at the AFP press agency.
“The American citizen was presented to the local court after his arrest and is now in pre-trial detention for new interrogation,” he added.
Previous attempts to visit North Sentinel Island
The police said that the tourist had previously attempted to enter the island in October 2024 using an inflatable kayak, but was arrested by hotel staff. He then tried later in January 2025.
This time, he first tried to draw attention using a whistle. He then left coconut and coke Diet as a “gift” and did not have any contact with the tribe, the inhabitants said.
We do not know what punishment he can receive. The Andamans also house the Jarawa tribe of 400 people, which, according to activists, are also threatened by the contacts of foreigners.
“It is very well known now that unisposed peoples have no immunity for common external diseases such as flu or measles, which could eliminate them completely,” said Caroline Pearce, director of Survival International, an organization that works to protect Aboriginal peoples at the DPA news agency.
She said that the tourist’s apparent behavior was “silly”.
In 2018, an American missionary illegally landed on North Sentinel Island. The inhabitants would have killed with arrows.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, near Myanmar, are strategically important for India and are on key shipping routes. New Delhi plans to create air and naval bases in the archipelago.
Published by: ZAC Crellin
