Russian woman found living with daughters inside cave in Karnataka, documents show serious visa violations

Russian woman found living with daughters in cave

Gokarna police rescued a Russian woman and her two young daughters who were found living in a remote and hazardous cave atop Ramatirtha Hill in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district. The woman and her daughters had been residing deep within the forest in a makeshift cave dwelling, raising alarm over their safety and immigration status.

The incident came to light on the evening of July 9, when Inspector Sridhar SR and his team from Gokarna Police Station were conducting a routine patrol in the forested area of Ramatirtha Hill, a region that is frequented by tourists but is also prone to landslides and inhabited by dangerous wildlife.

The officers spotted movement near the cave and, upon investigation, discovered 40-year-old Russian national Nina Kutina living with her daughters—Prema (6 years, 7 months) and Ama (4 years).

According to the police, Nina stated that she had come to Gokarna from Goa in search of spiritual solitude. She claimed she chose to live in the cave to engage in meditation and prayer, where she could be away from urban distractions.

However, the authorities expressed serious concern over the safety and well-being of her minor children, given the harsh terrain in the area and risks posed by venomous snakes and unstable land where they were living.

Following counselling, the woman and her children were safely escorted down the hill. At her request, they were relocated to an ashram in Bankikodla village, Kumta taluk, run by 80-year-old monk Swami Yogaratna Saraswati.

However, during subsequent interactions with the police and child welfare officials, Nina was reluctant to provide her passport or visa details.

With the help of the police, forest officials, and ashram authorities, Nina later admitted that her travel documents might have been lost inside the cave. A joint search operation led to the recovery of her passport and visa - subsequently revealing serious violations.

Records from her documents showed she had entered India on a business visa valid until April 17, 2017, and had been issued an Exit Permit in 2018. She exited to Nepal and re-entered India on September 8, 2018—thereby overstaying her visa and eventually living in a cave.

Since Nina and her daughters have been found with visa violations, the three females have been moved to the Women's Reception Centre in Karwar. Currently, they are in protective custody under the Department of Women and Child Development.

The Superintendent of Police has also initiated official communication with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Bengaluru to begin deportation procedures.

Nina and her daughters are expected to be produced before the FRRO authorities in Bengaluru and further proceedings will be carried after that.

Reports also said that the authorities are now working to ensure the safety and well-being of the children while coordinating with Russian consular officials regarding the family's repatriation from India.