Youtuber who gave 'uncontacted tribe' a Diet Coke stranded in Indian jail

A 24-year-old American , Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, has landed himself in serious trouble after he was arrested and taken into custody for allegedly trespassing onto a forbidden island in the Indian Ocean.

Content creator Polyakov, eager to contact the isolated Sentinelese tribe, left offerings to the 'uncontacted' peoples - a can of and a coconut. He even filmed the island and took sand samples before heading back to his boat.

A senior police officer, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the investigation, commented: "It may be claimed to be an adventure trip, but the fact is that there has been a violation of laws. Outsiders meeting Sentinelese could endanger the tribe's survival."

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Access within 3 miles of North Sentinel Island is severely restricted to protect its inhabitants, who have remained detached from global society for thousands of years. The Sentinelese, skilled in hunting with spears and bows and arrows, are extremely hostile towards intruders and act aggressively against anyone daring to enter their land.

The director of Survival International, Caroline Pearce, called the incident "deeply disturbing." She added: "It's unbelievable that someone could be so reckless and foolish.

"This individual's actions not only put his own life in danger, but also threatened the lives of the entire Sentinelese tribe."

Polyakov is facing charges under Indian law that could see him sentenced to up to five years in jail and a hefty fine. His next court date is set for April 29 in Port Blair, the capital of India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Earlier this week, a representative from the American consulate paid a visit to Polyakov in his cell. The US embassy in Delhi has yet to comment on the visit or provide any further updates on Polyakov's situation.

According to police, Polyakov had thoroughly researched sea conditions, tides and how to reach the island before setting off on his journey. After spending about an hour on the beach, failing to attract the attention of the islanders by blowing a whistle, he started his return trip.

Local fishermen eventually spotted him and alerted the authorities, leading to his arrest in Port Blair, which is nearly 750 miles east of India's mainland.

Authorities have said that the YouTuber's "actions posed a serious threat to the safety and wellbeing of the Sentinelese people, whose contact with outsiders is strictly prohibited by the law to protect their indigenous way of life."

Alongside arresting Polyakov, police also seized his phone and the GoPro camera believed to have been used to record his adventure. He is also accused of taking a bottle filled with sand from the island.

The 24-year-old is believed to have broken Indian laws that could see him locked up for five years and slapped with a hefty fine. He's due back in court in Port Blair on April 29, according to the police.