Gokarna: Police in India are investigating the case of a Russian woman, Nina Kutina, who was discovered residing in a cave with her two young daughters in Karnataka’s Gokarna forest, near the Goa border.
According to BBC, Kutina, 40, and her daughters, aged six and five, were found during a routine police patrol on 9 July. The family was living in a cave on Ramteertha hills, an area known for its tourist appeal but also its dangers, such as snakes and landslides. The police have since moved the trio to a detention center for foreigners near Bengaluru, citing their lack of valid documents to stay in India, with plans for their deportation underway.
The police patrol, led by Superintendent M Narayana of Uttara Kannada district, discovered the family when they were drawn to a steep hillside by the sight of bright clothes drying in the open. Upon investigation, they found the cave entrance curtained with colorful saris, and encountered one of the children. Inside, they found Kutina and her other daughter with minimal belongings, including plastic mats and food items. Despite the precarious living conditions, Kutina reportedly expressed comfort with her situation, stating, “Animals and snakes are our friends. Humans are dangerous.”
Kutina and her children were found to be medically fit after a hospital check-up. She claims to have lived in Russia until 15 years ago and has since traveled to numerous countries, including Costa Rica, Malaysia, and Thailand. Her stay in India seems linked to personal tragedy, as she mentioned a son who died in a road accident in Goa.
Efforts to contact the Russian consulate for Kutina’s repatriation are ongoing. Meanwhile, the Indian Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) has identified the girls’ father as Dror Goldstein, an Israeli businessman currently in India, who has expressed interest in obtaining joint custody of his daughters.
Kutina’s timeline in India remains unclear, but she stated they lived in the cave for a week after moving from Goa. She mentioned previously residing in a Goan cave, where one daughter was born. Kutina’s expired passport indicates her entry into India was on a business visa valid from October 2016 to April 2017. She claimed her visa expired recently due to her grief over her son’s death.
Kutina refuted claims of spiritual motives for her cave dwelling, emphasizing a preference for nature over conventional living. She insisted her children were content and healthy, engaging in activities like swimming and art. Kutina dismissed concerns about the forest’s dangers, equating snake sightings to commonplace occurrences in urban settings.