NEW DELHI: In Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, a 50-year-old woman was discovered chained to a tree in a forest. Police officials reported on Monday that a photocopy of her US passport and other documents, including an Aadhaar card with a Tamil Nadu address, were found in her possession.
The woman’s cries were heard by a shepherd in Sonurli village, approximately 450 kilometers from the district, on Saturday evening.Upon finding her chained and in distress, the shepherd promptly informed the police.
The woman was immediately taken to hospitals in Sawantwadi and Oros in Sindhudurg for treatment.
Due to her mental and health condition, she was later transferred to Goa Medical College for advanced care. Doctors treating her confirmed that she is out of danger but suffers from psychiatric problems. “We found medical prescriptions in her possession,” the official stated.
Authorities have identified the woman as Lalita Kayi based on the documents found, including an Aadhaar card with a Tamil Nadu address and a photocopy of her expired United States of America passport. Police are in the process of verifying these documents to determine her nationality and are also coordinating with the Foreigners Regional Registration office. Initial information suggests that the woman has been in India for the past 10 years.
The woman’s current condition prevents her from providing a statement to the police. The official mentioned, “The woman is weak as she has not eaten anything for a couple of days and also as the area experienced heavy rains.
We don’t know for how long she was tied to that tree. We believe her husband, who hails from Tamil Nadu, tied her there and fled.” Police teams have been dispatched to Tamil Nadu, Goa, and other locations to trace her relatives as part of the ongoing investigation.