A 50-year-old US woman named Lalita Kayi Kumar was recently discovered tied to a tree with an iron chain in a forest in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district. The incident took place in Sonurli village, approximately 450 kilometers from Mumbai. Her weakened state and lack of food for several days have left her unable to record a statement with the police, officials reported on Monday. The woman was found after a shepherd heard her cries and alerted the authorities. Along with her, a photocopy of her US passport and an Aadhaar card with a Tamil Nadu address were recovered.
Due to her frail condition and the adverse weather conditions, Lalita has been unable to provide a coherent statement to the police. Initially, she was taken to a hospital in Sawantwadi in the Konkan region and later transferred to Oros in Sindhudurg for further medical attention. Considering her mental and physical state, she was eventually moved to Goa Medical College for advanced treatment, where doctors reported that she is out of danger but suffers from psychiatric issues. Medical prescriptions found in her possession corroborate this assessment.
women with American passport found chained in #Sindhudurg forest .
— Sonu Kanojia (@NNsonukanojia) July 29, 2024
As per police reports, a photocopy of her US passport as well as other documents, including an Aadhaar card with a Tamil Nadu address, were recovered from her. pic.twitter.com/odCWralvcN
Police have registered a case of attempted murder against Lalita's former husband based on a note she wrote at the hospital. In her note, she claimed that her ex-husband, who resides in Tamil Nadu, chained her in the forest and abandoned her there. The authorities are now verifying her documents to confirm her nationality, as her visa had expired. Initial information suggests that Lalita has been in India for the past decade.
This harrowing case highlights not only the physical and mental trauma endured by Lalita but also raises concerns about the administrative and bureaucratic challenges faced by foreigners in distress in India. The prompt response by the local shepherd and the police's ongoing investigation underscore the critical need for vigilant community and efficient law enforcement in addressing such grave situations. The involvement of medical professionals in diagnosing and treating her psychiatric conditions is a crucial step in her recovery process.
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