Indian police discovered a Russian woman, Nina Kutina, and her two young daughters living in a remote forest cave in Karnataka on July 9. The family was found during a routine patrol of Ramatirtha Hill, a popular tourist spot. Kutina, aged 40, and her daughters, aged six and four, had been living in the cave for more than a week.
According to police officer Sridhar S.R., Kutina had been overstaying her visa and is now set to be repatriated to Russia. The family has been moved to a nearby detention facility for foreigners living illegally in India. Kutina reportedly spent her time in the cave meditating by candlelight and expressed a desire to live in the forest and worship God. She had previously worked as a Russian language tutor in Goa.
Police found pictures of Hindu deities inside the cave, and Kutina had decorated the entrance with makeshift curtains made of red saris. In a message to friends, Kutina wrote, "Our peaceful life in the cave has ended — our cave home destroyed."
The Russian Embassy in New Delhi has not yet commented on the situation. Kutina declined to comment when contacted by the Associated Press but told the Press Trust of India that she spent her days painting, singing, and reading books with her children.