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Chained and Abandoned: American Woman's 40-Day Ordeal in Indian Forest

Chained and Abandoned: American Woman's 40-Day Ordeal in Indian Forest
Thursday 01 August 2024 - 13:30
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An American woman, identified as Lalita Kayi Kumar, aged 50, was found in a harrowing state on Saturday morning, chained to a tree in the dense forest of Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Kumar, a U.S. citizen who has resided in India for the past decade, was discovered by a local shepherd after enduring 40 days without sustenance. The shepherd promptly alerted authorities, who rushed to the scene. Kumar was found with her passport and an expired Indian visa.

She was initially taken to a primary healthcare center in Sawantwadi before being transferred to a more advanced medical facility for further treatment. Preliminary medical evaluations revealed severe dehydration and significant swelling in her right leg, a result of the iron chain used to restrain her.

From her hospital bed, Kumar penned a note accusing her husband, Satish, of abandoning her in the forest following a domestic dispute. The note read, “Husband tied me to a tree in a forest,” detailing her ordeal of starvation and dehydration.

Authorities have initiated an attempted murder case against Satish, who also faces charges of endangering personal safety and wrongful confinement. The investigation is ongoing, with police exploring leads beyond the Sindhudurg district.

A cattle herder from the nearby village of Sawantwadi first heard Kumar's cries from within the forest. Upon locating her, the police were summoned, and they utilized a cutter to free her from the tree before transporting her to medical facilities for immediate care.

The incident has sparked widespread concern and a thorough investigation to uncover the full extent of the circumstances leading to Kumar's ordeal.