In a startling incident that has captivated international attention, an American woman was discovered chained to a tree in the dense forests of Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, India. The woman, identified as Lalita Kayi, 50, was found screaming for help by local shepherds a week ago. The shepherds alerted the police, who swiftly rescued her by sawing off the chain.
Discovery and Rescue
Pandurang Gawkar, a cow herder, recounted the moment he found Ms. Kayi. He was tending to his cattle when he heard “a woman screaming loudly” from the forested area. Following the cries, he found Ms. Kayi with one leg chained to a tree. Gawkar immediately called for help from other villagers and the local police.
Police discovered Ms. Kayi in an emaciated state and rushed her to a local hospital. Her health has since stabilised, and she has been moved to a psychiatric facility in Ratnagiri district for further treatment.
Ms. Kayi’s Allegations
In a written statement, Ms. Kayi accused her husband of chaining her to the tree and abandoning her without food or water. Police are currently searching for her husband, who is believed to be in Tamil Nadu based on the information provided by Ms. Kayi.
Ms. Kayi’s belongings included her American passport, an Indian Aadhaar card with a Tamil Nadu address, a mobile phone, a tablet, and 31,000 rupees ($370; £290). These items have led the police to rule out theft as a motive.
Health and Investigation
Doctors treating Ms. Kayi have noted her physical improvement. Dr. Shivanand Bandekar of Goa Medical College reported that while she had wounds on her leg, her vital signs were stable. Hospital superintendent Dr. Sanghamitra Phule confirmed that Ms. Kayi is now taking medication, eating, and interacting with others, albeit only in English.
Ms. Kayi, a former ballet dancer and yoga practitioner from Massachusetts, moved to India approximately ten years ago to study yoga and meditation. It was during this time that she met her husband, who has been named Satish in some reports. Police believe the couple had a falling out, leading to the current circumstances.
Unanswered Questions
Despite the ongoing investigation, many questions remain unanswered. Ms. Kayi claimed that she had been without food and water for 40 days and that her husband had given her an injection for extreme psychosis, which locked her jaw and prevented her from drinking water. These claims are yet to be verified by the police.
The police have registered a case of attempted murder against her husband and have dispatched teams to Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Maharashtra to further investigate. The US embassy in Delhi, reportedly pressuring local authorities to expedite the investigation, has not commented on the case due to privacy laws.
As authorities continue to unravel the details of this mysterious case, the focus remains on locating Ms. Kayi’s husband and verifying her claims. The incident has raised significant concerns and highlighted the need for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind this harrowing ordeal.
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