Yesterday, in the Vasturli forest of Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, a woman’s body was found. She was 50 years old and her body was tied to a tree with an iron chain. A police official confirmed today that a copy of her US passport and other documents were found with her. These documents included an Aadhaar card that had an address from Tamil Nadu.
Who is Lalita Kayi?
The American woman found is Lalita Kayi Kumar, aged 50. She has been too weak to talk to the police due to lack of food for several days, as reported by officials on Monday.
She was found in Sonurli village, a remote area about 450 kilometres from Mumbai, on Saturday. A shepherd heard her call for help and informed the authorities.
When she was rescued, officials found several documents with her. These included a copy of her US passport and an Aadhaar card with a Tamil Nadu address.
Early investigations indicate that Kumar has lived in India for the last ten years. Police have sent teams to Tamil Nadu, Goa and other places to find her relatives and get more information.
The woman, Kumar, is too weak to make a statement. She hasn’t eaten for days and the area has had heavy rain, an official said.
After her rescue, Kumar was taken to a hospital in Sawantwadi in Maharashtra’s Konkan region. She was then moved to Oros in Sindhudurg and finally to Goa Medical College for better treatment due to her critical condition. Doctors say she is safe now but has psychiatric problems. They found medical prescriptions with her, the official added.
The police think Kumar’s husband from Tamil Nadu might be involved. He might have chained her there. They found her Aadhaar card with a Tamil Nadu address and a copy of her US passport. Her visa is expired.
The official said they are verifying all these documents to confirm her nationality. The police are also contacting the Foreigners Regional Registration office.