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A 50-year-old woman named Lalita Kayi, according to the proof of identification she had in her possession, was found chained to a tree in the middle of a forest in Sindhudurg district. Forest Inspector Vikas Padve from the Banda Police Station in Sawantwadi taluk said the woman was found tied to a tree with an iron chain around her legs.
“A local shepherd in Sonurli village (approximately 490 km from Mumbai) was out in the forest when he heard the woman’s cry on Saturday (July 27) evening. He informed the Sawantwadi Police Station. The police carried out a rescue operation and admitted her to a nearby hospital. The woman was subsequently referred to the District Hospital in Oros taluk, and later shifted to the Goa Medical College for advanced treatment as her mental and [physical] health condition was deteriorating. Doctors have informed us that she is doing fine but is suffering from psychiatric issues. She is unable to speak and remains under observation,” Mr. Padve told Today News 24.
The police have found a photocopy of an American passport; an Aadhaar card that identifies Ms. Kayi as a resident of Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai; medical prescriptions; a note in her bag scribbled with “my former husband”; and other documents.
“The documents suggest that her name is Lalita Kayi and her visa has expired. We are working with officials from the Foreigners Regional Registration office to get all the documents verified to ascertain her nationality. As of now, we have learnt that she has been living in India for the last 10 years at least,” Mr. Padve said.
While the probe is continuing, the police estimate she may have been tied up in the forest for nearly 48 hours before she was heard.
The police investigation, which is trying to trace her contacts over the past few months, also shows that the U.S.-born woman had lived in Goa for some time. A police team has left for Tamil Nadu and Goa.
“As of now, she is not stable to give an official statement as she is recovering from weakness. She seems to have not eaten for days and was also tied up in the open in heavy rains. With preliminary information, we believe she may have been tied to the tree by her husband, who may have fled afterward,” Mr. Padve said.
The probe into the case is underway.
