Mumbai: An American citizen, Lalitha Kayi, 50, was discovered chained to a tree in a forest in Maharashtra, India. She was rescued approximately 10 days ago from the dense forests of Sindhudurg district after her desperate cries for help were heard by local shepherds. According to her initial statement to the police, Kayi claimed that her husband had chained her and left her in the forest to perish without food or water.
Currently receiving treatment for psychiatric issues, Kayi has not spoken publicly about the incident. The US embassy has declined to comment, citing her right to privacy. The case has shocked India, prompting the formation of several police teams to investigate how she ended up in the forest.
Saurabh Agarwal, the superintendent of police for Sindhudurg, informed BBC Marathi that Kayi later retracted her initial statement, stating she was not actually married and that she might have been hallucinating when she made her initial claims. She reportedly revealed that her visa had expired, and she was running out of money, which led her to purchase locks and chains to bind herself to the tree.
Dr. Sanghamitra Phule, the superintendent of the psychiatric hospital where Kayi is being treated, reported that her condition is improving. She is eating, walking, and exercising, and is receiving necessary nutrients to address deficiencies. Her family in the US has been contacted, and Kayi is in touch with them via phone.
Kayi, who was in a severely emaciated state when found, was carried out of the forest on a stretcher. A cowherd discovered her on July 27 after hearing her loud screams. Upon reaching her, he saw that one of her legs was tied to a tree and immediately alerted other villagers and the local police. The police sawed off the chain and rescued her. After her physical health was stabilized in the hospital, she was transferred to the psychiatric facility for further care.
Police found a copy of her passport, which identified her as a US citizen from Massachusetts, along with documents listing an address in Tamil Nadu, India. Kayi also had a mobile phone, a tablet, and 31,000 rupees ($370; £290) in her possession. Initially unable to speak, she communicated with the police and doctors by writing notes. She claimed her husband in Tamil Nadu was responsible for chaining her, and asserted she had gone without food and water for 40 days, though authorities questioned the validity of this claim, suggesting it would be unlikely for someone to survive such duration without sustenance.
( Source Courtesy: BBC India ) )
