Woman with US Passport Copy Found Chained in Maharashtra Forest; Investigation Underway

A 50-year-old woman was discovered tied to a tree in a forest in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district. The woman, identified as Lalita Kayi, was found with an iron chain wrapped around her and a photocopy of her US passport, along with other documents, including an Aadhaar card with a Tamil Nadu address. The incident was reported by a shepherd who heard her cries on Saturday evening in Sonurli village, approximately 450 kilometers from Mumbai.

Police have recovered an Aadhaar card and a photocopy of a US passport from Lalita Kayi. The authorities are currently working to verify her nationality and are in contact with the Foreigners Regional Registration office. Preliminary investigations suggest that she has been residing in India for the past decade. Police teams have been dispatched to Tamil Nadu, Goa, and other locations to locate her relatives and further investigate the case.

The shepherd alerted the authorities after finding the woman in severe distress. She was initially taken to a hospital in Sawantwadi in the Konkan region and later transferred to a medical facility in Oros, Sindhudurg. Due to her critical condition, she was subsequently moved to the Goa Medical College for more advanced care. According to medical professionals, she is now out of danger but suffers from psychiatric issues. Medical prescriptions were found among her belongings.

The woman is currently unable to provide a statement due to her weakened state from not eating for several days and the harsh weather conditions. The police suspect that her husband, who is from Tamil Nadu, may have been responsible for her confinement and then fled.