Woman found chained to tree in Maharashtra forest; identified as US citizen
PTC Web Desk: In a harrowing incident, a 50-year-old woman was found chained to a tree with an iron chain in a forest in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district. A shepherd in Sonurli village, located approximately 450 km from the state capital, Mumbai, heard her cries on Saturday evening and alerted the police.
The woman, identified as Lalita Kayi, was found in a distressed state along with a photocopy of her US passport and other documents, including an Aadhaar card with a Tamil Nadu address. She was initially taken to a hospital in Sawantwadi and later shifted to Oros in Sindhudurg. Due to her critical health and mental condition, she was taken to Goa Medical College for advanced treatment, where she is now stable.
According to a police official, the woman suffers from psychiatric issues, as evidenced by the medical prescriptions found in her possession. "Her Aadhaar card and a photocopy of her US passport were recovered. Her visa has expired, and we are verifying her documents to confirm her nationality," the official stated.
Preliminary information suggests that Lalita Kayi has been in India for the past 10 years. She is currently unable to provide a statement due to her weakened condition, having not eaten for several days and being exposed to heavy rains. The police suspect that her husband, who is from Tamil Nadu, may have tied her to the tree and fled.
Police teams have been dispatched to Tamil Nadu, Goa, and other locations to trace her relatives and gather more information. The police are also coordinating with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office as part of the probe.
- With inputs from agencies