An American woman named Lalita Kayi, 50, was found chained to a tree and screaming in a forest in Maharashtra, India. She was discovered by shepherds who alerted the police, leading to her rescue. Kayi was emaciated and in poor health, but has since improved physically and was moved to a psychiatric facility for further treatment. In a statement to the police, she alleged that her husband had chained her and left her in the forest to die without food or water. Police are searching for her husband in Tamil Nadu based on her information.
Kayi was found by a cow herder who heard her screams while grazing his cattle in the forest. She had a copy of her passport and Aadhaar card with her, as well as a mobile phone, a tablet, and money, ruling out theft as a motive. It is believed that she may have spent days in the forest without anyone hearing her cries for help. She was initially taken to a local hospital before being moved to a hospital in Goa, where she was treated for wounds on her leg and evaluated for mental health issues. Her health improved enough for her to be moved to a psychiatric hospital in Maharashtra.
According to police reports, Kayi was a ballet dancer and yoga practitioner from America who moved to India 10 years ago to study yoga and meditation in Tamil Nadu, where she met her husband. Reports indicate that she may have fallen out with her husband, leading to her ordeal in the forest. There is confusion around how she ended up in the forest where she was discovered. Kayi communicated with police and doctors by writing notes on a pad, blaming her husband for her situation and claiming to have gone without food and water for 40 days. Police have registered a case of attempted murder against her husband and are investigating further.
The US embassy in Delhi has been involved in the case and has reportedly been pressuring police to speed up the investigation. However, they have refused to comment on the case due to privacy regulations. Police are also looking for clues in Kayi’s mobile phone and tablet to gather more information about her ordeal. Her husband has not been located by police and has not made any statements to the media about the situation. The mystery surrounding Kayi’s experience continues to raise questions and intrigue as the investigation unfolds.
