A shocking incident unfolded in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, India, on Saturday, when a 50-year-old American woman of Indian origin was found chained to a tree in a forest. Identified as Lalitya Kayi, she was discovered by a shepherd who heard her cries and alerted the police. The police recovered a photocopy of her US passport, an Aadhaar card with a Tamil Nadu address, and other documents, confirming her identity.
The shepherd found Kayi on Saturday evening after hearing her desperate cries from the forest. He immediately contacted the police, who rescued her and rushed her to a hospital in Sawantwadi. Due to her deteriorating health condition, she was then transferred to Oros in Sindhudurg and subsequently to Goa Medical College for advanced treatment. Fortunately, she is now out of danger. Doctors treating her revealed that she suffers from psychiatric problems and found medical prescriptions in her possession.
A police official stated that they are verifying Kayi’s nationality, considering her expired visa and the documents recovered. They are also in contact with the Foreigners Regional Registration office. Initial investigations suggest that Kayi has been in India for the past 10 years.
The police believe that Kayi’s husband, who is from Tamil Nadu, may have tied her to the tree and fled. The woman is unable to give a statement due to her weakened state, having gone without food for several days and enduring heavy rains in the area. Police teams have been dispatched to Tamil Nadu, Goa, and other locations to trace her relatives and gather further information. The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to unravel the circumstances surrounding this disturbing incident.
