Police have found a Russian woman and her two daughters in a cave in a remote area of Northern Kannada in Karnataka. They were found in a cave in Ramateertha hills in Gokarna town.
The police patrol team saw some clothes about "700 to 800 meters below" at the cave entry, which gave them a hint of someone being in the cave.
When the patrol team was passing through the forest, they saw a foreign girl running out of the cave. The police team was surprised to see the girl in the forest.
We saw snakes crawling around the cave: SP
Northern Kannada district Superintendent of Police M Narayan told media, "We saw snakes crawling around the cave. This area is also dangerous because last year there was a landslide around the Ramtirtha hills. Therefore, the police team was patrolling this area properly."
However, 40-year-old Russian woman Nina Kutinan alias Mohi and her two daughters Preya (six years) and Ama (four years) were quite comfortable at the place.
The family lived inside a natural cave nestled among dense forests and rugged terrain. Mohi had transformed the cave into a spiritual sanctuary, placing a Rudra idol. She also reportedly dedicated her days to performing puja and meditation.
Woman was living in near-complete isolation for two weeks
The woman was living in near-complete isolation for nearly two weeks. According to the police, she came to India on a business visa, which expired in 2017.
"It took us some time to make them understand that it was dangerous to stay there," the police superintendent said.
A week ago, Nina had brought some vegetables and ration items and used forest wood for cooking. The police found packets of noodles and a salad packet of a popular brand there.
Lord Krishna has sent me to meditate: Nina
"Our team also found her worshipping the idol of Pandurang Vitthal. The Russian woman Nina Kutinan said that Lord Krishna had sent her to meditate and she was doing penance," the police officer said.
Nina told the police that she had lost her passport, but the police and forest officials found her passport. She says that she used to visit India frequently, but her visa had expired in 2017.
Nina came to India on a business visa from October 18, 2016 to April 17, 2017. The Goa Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) issued her an exit permit on April 19, 2018. She went to Nepal and later returned to India on September 8, 2018.
Woman will be sent back to Russia
For now, the police have taken the woman to an ashram and the children to a children's home. Officials say that Nina and the children will be brought to the detention center for foreign nationals in Bengaluru and then sent to Russia.