From 2015 onwards, the Indian security forces have been undertaking circumnavigation – periodic patrolling at a distance from the North Sentinel Island – with the broad objective of keeping vigil, warding off and reporting anyone straying into the Sentinelese’s territory, and to make systematic observations of the tribe and their island from a distance. This is where the “eyes on” part of the policy comes in.

Dr Sasikumar, who was part of a circumnavigation of the North Sentinel Island as well, tells TNM that this policy must continue to be followed and the Sentinelese and their way of life should be left alone.

“We should learn from the experience of the other Andamanese tribes,” he says, referring to how “friendly contact” and “mainstreaming” of other Andamanese tribes like the Jarawas resulted in massive depletion in their numbers as well as the tribes becoming plagued by social evils such as alcoholism, sexual exploitation and diseases such as measles.

Even if the Sentinelese came to tolerate or welcome contact, it could lead to a host of other issues.