Russian woman, daughters found living in Karnataka cave, rescued by cops

A Russian woman and her two daughters were found and rescued from a secluded cave in Karnataka's rugged Ramatirtha Hills. The rescue operation was carried out on Wednesday by the Gokarna police during a routine patrol focused on tourist safety in the region.

Nina Kutina, 40, and her daughters Prema, 6, and Ama, 4, were discovered living in a cave in a remote and landslide-prone area of the forest by Circle Inspector Sridhar SR and his team. The police escorted all the three down the hill and relocated them to an ashram in Bankikodla village, under the care of 80-year-old spiritual leader Swami Yogaratna Saraswati.

The woman, deeply drawn to Indian spiritual traditions, had arrived in India on a business visa and made her way from Goa to the sacred coastal town of Gokarna, reportedly inspired by Hindu philosophy and a quest for spiritual awakening.

She had been living in complete isolation inside a natural cave for nearly two weeks, accompanied only by her daughters. The family had set up a modest living space within the cave, surrounded by dense forest and steep slopes. Inside, the woman had installed a Rudra idol and spent her days in worship and meditation.

While monitoring the area following a recent landslide, the police noticed clothes hanging out to dry near the cave and decided to investigate further. Navigating through the thick underbrush, they discovered the woman and her children living quietly inside.

Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police M Narayana said, “Our patrolling team noticed sarees and other clothes drying outside a cave in the Ramatirtha Hills. When they reached the spot, they found Kutina and her two daughters residing there.”

“It was surprising how the family managed to survive in the wilderness. Fortunately, they were unharmed during their stay,” he added.

Kutina, who claimed to have come to India on a business visa, initially failed to produce valid travel documentation. She said her passport and visa may have been lost in the forest. A subsequent search by the Gokarna Police and the Forest Department led to the recovery of the documents.

Verification revealed that Kutina had entered India on a business visa on October 18, 2016, which expired on April 17, 2017. An exit permit was issued by the FRRO Panaji on April 19, 2018, after which she reportedly travelled to Nepal and re-entered India on September 8, 2018.

Due to safety concerns, the woman and her daughters were transferred to the Government Women’s Shelter in Karwar, under the Department of Women and Child Welfare, the police said in a press release.

The Superintendent of Police, Uttara Kannada, has initiated proceedings with the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Bengaluru, regarding the visa violations. With assistance from a local NGO, the Russian Embassy has been contacted, and repatriation formalities are underway to ensure the safe return of her and her children.

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