Gokarna (Karnataka) [India], July 12 (ANI): A 40-year-old Russian woman and her two young daughters were rescued from a hazardous cave in the forested Ramatirtha Hill area of Gokarna on July 9, after police discovered them living there in precarious conditions. Authorities later confirmed that the woman, Nina Kutina, had overstayed her visa in India by more than eight years.
According to Gokarna police, the rescue took place around 5:00 PM during a routine patrol of Ramatirtha Hill to ensure tourist safety. Officers checked a cave deep within the forested area and found Kutina along with her daughters, six-year-old Prema and four-year-old Ama.
When questioned, Kutina told police she had come from Goa with her children, expressing a desire to live in the forest to “worship God and meditate.”
Police noted that the cave was located in a landslide-prone zone and surrounded by venomous wildlife, posing serious risks to the family’s safety. After officers explained the dangers, Kutina agreed to leave the cave. She and her daughters were brought down safely and, at her request, were taken to the ashram of Yoga Ratna Saraswati Swamiji, an 80-year-old spiritual teacher, associated with the NGO Shankara Prasad Foundation in Bankikodlu village, Kumta taluk, under the care of female police personnel.
Initially hesitant to provide details, Kutina later revealed to police, the Women and Child Welfare Department, and Swamiji that her passport and visa documents had been lost. However, a subsequent search of the cave and surrounding area by police and forest officials recovered her documents, which revealed that her visa expired on April 17, 2017.
Following the discovery, the Superintendent of Police of Karwar (Uttara Kannada district) contacted the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Bengaluru to begin repatriation proceedings.
Kutina and her daughters are currently under the care of the Women’s Reception Centre for their safety. Authorities stated that the family will be presented before the FRRO in Shanthinagar, Bengaluru, on July 14 under the supervision of a female police officer for further legal action.
(ANI)
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