An American woman who was found chained to a tree ‘screaming’ in a forest in the western Indian state of Maharashtra had blamed her husband, but it has now emerged that she chained herself
Lalita Kayi, 50, was rescued on July 27 from the dense forests of Sindhudurg district after her cries for help were heard by shepherds.
THE LIES SHE TOLD
In a written statement to the police, she had alleged that her husband ‘chained her and left her in the forest to die without food or water’.
Ms Kayi’s predicament had shocked India and police had constituted several teams to investigate how she came to be in the forest.
It has now emerged that there is no husband in the picture.
THE NEW REVELATION
Saurabh Agarwal, superintendent of police for Sindhudurg, told BBC Marathi on Tuesday, August 6, that Ms Kayi has now said that she was not married and that she was probably suffering from hallucinations when she gave her first statement.
Police said she told them she had been distressed because her visa had run out and she was running out of money, so she had bought locks and chains and tied herself to the tree.
SHE’S RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Dr Sanghamitra Phule, superintendent of the psychiatric hospital where Ms Kayi is being treated, told BBC Marathi that ‘her condition is improving’.
‘She eats, walks and also exercises. She is under treatment and we are also giving her some nutrients that her body was lacking.’
HOW SHE WAS FOUND
‘The sound was coming from the forest on the side of the mountain. When I went there, I saw that one of her legs was tied to a tree. She was screaming like an animal. I called other villagers and the local police.’
They police sawed off the chain and rescued her. Ms Kayi, who appeared completely emaciated, was taken to hospital and after her physical health improved, she was moved to the psychiatric facility for further treatment.
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Police said that on her, they found a copy of her passport – which stated that she was a US citizen who came from Massachusetts – and some other documents with her home address in Tamil Nadu.
She also had a mobile phone, a tablet and 31,000 rupees ($370; £290) in her possession.
Ms Kayi, who was initially unable to speak, communicated with the police and doctors by scribbling notes on a pad.
