Kumar Bahukhandi
Russian woman and her two daughters rescued from Gokarna cave-Photo: ITG/SagayRaj
A Russian woman and her two young daughters were rescued from a dangerous cave located in the forests of the Ramtirtha hill range in Gokarna, Karnataka on July 9. Police found them living there in dangerous conditions. Officials later confirmed that the woman, identified as Mohi (40), had been rescued.
According to Gokarna police, on July 9, at around 5 pm, when they were patrolling the Ramtirtha hill to check the safety of tourists, the police inspector and staff of Gokarna police station gathered and checked the cave located within the forest area on the hill. It was found that a foreign woman of Russian origin, Mohi (40 years), was living there with her two young daughters Preya (6 years 7 months) and Ama (4 years).
The foreign woman wanted to meditate while living in the forest
On being questioned, the foreign woman said that she had come from Goa with her children because she wanted to meditate while living in the forest. The police found that the cave was located in an area prone to landslides and was surrounded by venomous wildlife, posing a serious threat to the family. After being told about the dangers, the woman agreed to leave from there.
The Russian woman and her two young children were brought down safely from the cave on the hill. Then, as per their wish, they were taken to the ashram of Yoga Ratna Saraswati Swamiji (80-year-old woman) of the NGO Shankar Prasad Foundation in Bankikodlu village of Kumta taluk under the protection of women police personnel. Initially reluctant to reveal her identity, Mohi later informed the police, Women and Child Welfare Department and Swamiji that her and her daughters’ passports and visas were missing.
The Russian woman’s visa had expired in 2017
However, during a subsequent search of the cave and the surrounding forest, police and forest department officials recovered documents which showed that her visa had expired on April 17, 2017. The Superintendent of Police of Karwar (Uttara Kannada) contacted the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Bengaluru. Necessary steps are being taken to send the woman and her children back to Russia. They are currently under the care of the Mahila Swagat Kendra for safety. Officials said the woman and her daughters would be produced before the FRRO at Shantinagar in Bengaluru on July 14 under the supervision of a woman police officer for further legal action.
