Woman found chained in Maharashtra forest with US passport copy
What's the story
A 50-year-old woman, identified as Lalita Kayi, was found chained to a tree in a forest in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district. She was found by a shepherd on Saturday evening in Sonurli village, approximately 450km from the district. After hearing her cries and finding her distressed, the shepherd alerted local police authorities.
Medical intervention
Woman shifted to Goa Medical College for advanced treatment
Upon being discovered, Kayi was immediately taken to a hospital in Sawantwadi and later transferred to Oros in Sindhudurg. Given her deteriorating mental and health condition, she was moved to Goa Medical College for advanced treatment. "Doctors treating her said she suffers from psychiatric problems," a police official confirmed.
Document verification
Police recover US passport copy
The police recovered a photocopy of Kayi's United States passport and other documents, including an Aadhaar card with a Tamil Nadu address. "We found her Aadhaar card with a Tamil Nadu address and a photocopy of her United States of America passport," the official stated. The police are currently verifying these documents to confirm her nationality and have also contacted the Foreigners Regional Registration office.
Residency details
Woman resided in India for a decade, visa expired
Initial information obtained by the police suggests that Kayi has been residing in India for the past decade. However, it was noted that her visa has expired. Currently, due to her weakened state from not having eaten for several days and exposure to heavy rains, she is unable to provide a statement. The police suspect that Kayi's husband, who is from Tamil Nadu, may have been responsible for chaining her to the tree before fleeing. Further investigation is underway. s