Police hunt for husband after the harrowing scene unveiled

INDIA, Aug 3: A dramatic case has unfolded in Maharashtra, India, where an American woman, Lalita Kayi, 50, was found chained to a tree in a remote forest, prompting a widespread police investigation. Kayi was discovered a week ago in Sindhudurg district after her cries for help were heard by local shepherds. The shepherds alerted the authorities, who quickly intervened to rescue her.

Upon rescue, Kayi, who was in a severely emaciated state, was transported to a local hospital. Her condition has since improved, and she was moved to a psychiatric facility in Ratnagiri district on Friday for further treatment. Doctors have confirmed that her health is now stable, although she continues to receive medical care and support.

In her statement to the police, Kayi has accused her husband of chaining her and abandoning her in the forest without food or water. The police are currently searching for her husband, who is believed to be in Tamil Nadu based on the information provided by Kayi.

Pandurang Gawkar, the cow herder who found Kayi, recounted his experience to BBC Marathi, explaining that he heard her distress calls while grazing his cattle. Upon investigating, he found Kayi with one leg tied to a tree and alerted other villagers and the police.

Authorities discovered that Kayi had a passport, an Aadhaar card, a mobile phone, a tablet, and 31,000 rupees ($370; £290) with her, which suggests that theft was not a motive. The presence of these items also contributed to her identification and subsequent rescue.

Dr. Shivanand Bandekar, dean of Goa Medical College, informed The Indian Express that Kayi had wounds on her leg and appeared to be suffering from a mental health condition. Despite her severe malnutrition, her vital signs were reported to be stable. She was later moved to a psychiatric hospital in Ratnagiri.

Kayi, a former ballet dancer and yoga practitioner from Massachusetts, had moved to India about a decade ago to study yoga and meditation. It was in Tamil Nadu that she met her husband, identified in some reports as Satish. The circumstances leading up to her being found in the forest remain unclear, as reports suggest she had stayed in Goa and Mumbai before her ordeal.

Initially unable to speak, Kayi communicated her distress through written notes, alleging that she had been without food and water for 40 days and had been administered an injection that affected her ability to drink. She claims this left her dependent on intravenous nutrition.

The police have registered a case of attempted murder against her husband and are investigating further with teams dispatched across Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Maharashtra. They are also examining the contents of Kayi's mobile phone and tablet for additional clues. The US embassy in Delhi has declined to comment on the case, citing privacy regulations under the US Privacy Act.