An American woman discovered chained to a tree in a forest in Maharashtra, India, has sparked a complex investigation after her dramatic rescue last week. Lalita Kayi, 50, was found by shepherds in Sindhudurg district after her desperate cries for help were heard. The shepherds alerted the police, who subsequently freed her by cutting through the chain.
Kayi, who appeared emaciated, was initially treated at a local hospital before being transferred to a psychiatric facility in Ratnagiri district for further care. Doctors reported that her physical health has improved, and she is now able to communicate, albeit only in English.
In a statement to the police, Kayi alleged that her husband had abandoned her in the forest, chaining her and leaving her without food or water. According to the police, they are searching for her husband in Tamil Nadu, based on the information she provided.
The circumstances of her ordeal remain murky. Pandurang Gawkar, a cow herder who found Kayi, described hearing “a woman screaming loudly” before discovering her chained to a tree. He alerted other villagers and local police, who then took her to a nearby hospital before her transfer to a facility in Goa.
Among the items found with Kayi were her American passport, an Aadhaar card, a mobile phone, a tablet, and 31,000 rupees ($370; £290). The presence of these items has ruled out theft as a motive, but many questions remain unanswered. The forest where Kayi was found is extensive, raising concerns about how she was discovered.
Dr. Shivanand Bandekar of Goa Medical College noted that Kayi had wounds on her leg and appeared to be suffering from a mental health condition, though her vital signs were stable. Kayi communicated with police and doctors through written notes, claiming she had been without food and water for 40 days and had received an injection that locked her jaw.
Police have yet to verify these claims and are skeptical about the possibility of surviving such conditions. They have filed a case of attempted murder against her husband and are investigating further in Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Maharashtra. The search for her husband continues, and he has not yet responded to media inquiries.
The US Embassy in Delhi, while reportedly pressing for a swift investigation, has declined to comment due to privacy regulations. The case remains under active investigation as authorities seek to unravel the truth behind Kayi’s harrowing ordeal.
An American woman discovered chained to a tree in a forest in Maharashtra, India, has sparked a complex investigation after her dramatic rescue last week. Lalita Kayi, 50, was found by shepherds in Sindhudurg district after her desperate cries for help were heard. The shepherds alerted the police, who subsequently freed her by cutting through the chain.
Kayi, who appeared emaciated, was initially treated at a local hospital before being transferred to a psychiatric facility in Ratnagiri district for further care. Doctors reported that her physical health has improved, and she is now able to communicate, albeit only in English.
In a statement to the police, Kayi alleged that her husband had abandoned her in the forest, chaining her and leaving her without food or water. According to the police, they are searching for her husband in Tamil Nadu, based on the information she provided.
The circumstances of her ordeal remain murky. Pandurang Gawkar, a cow herder who found Kayi, described hearing “a woman screaming loudly” before discovering her chained to a tree. He alerted other villagers and local police, who then took her to a nearby hospital before her transfer to a facility in Goa.
Among the items found with Kayi were her American passport, an Aadhaar card, a mobile phone, a tablet, and 31,000 rupees ($370; £290). The presence of these items has ruled out theft as a motive, but many questions remain unanswered. The forest where Kayi was found is extensive, raising concerns about how she was discovered.
Dr. Shivanand Bandekar of Goa Medical College noted that Kayi had wounds on her leg and appeared to be suffering from a mental health condition, though her vital signs were stable. Kayi communicated with police and doctors through written notes, claiming she had been without food and water for 40 days and had received an injection that locked her jaw.
Police have yet to verify these claims and are skeptical about the possibility of surviving such conditions. They have filed a case of attempted murder against her husband and are investigating further in Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Maharashtra. The search for her husband continues, and he has not yet responded to media inquiries.
The US Embassy in Delhi, while reportedly pressing for a swift investigation, has declined to comment due to privacy regulations. The case remains under active investigation as authorities seek to unravel the truth behind Kayi’s harrowing ordeal.
