India | American woman found chained to tree, tied herself: Police

A 50-year-old American woman who was found chained to a tree in a forest in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district on Saturday (July 27), had shackled herself, police and her doctortold the BBC.

Lalita Kayi was rescued 10 days ago from the forests of Sindhudurg district by a shepherd in the remote village of Sonurli.

The shepherd heard her cries on Saturday evening and immediately alerted the local authorities.
When police arrived at the scene, they found her one leg chained to a tree.

In her written statement to police, she alleged that her husband chained her and left her in the forest to die without food or water.

Kayi, who is currently receiving treatment in a psychiatric facility, has not spoken anything publicly. TheUS embassy has also refused to comment, citing her right to privacy.

According to Sindhudurg SP Saurabh Agarwal, Kayi has recanted her previous claim of being married, attributing her initial statement to possible hallucinations, as reported by BBC.

The police further saidher visa had run out andshe had littlemoney to survive, so shebought locks and chains and tied herself to the tree.

Dr Sanghamitra Phule, superintendent of the psychiatric hospital where Kayi is being treated informedthat her condition is improving.

"Kayi now eats properly, walks and also exercises. She is under treatment,” Dr Phule said and added “her family had been traced in the US and that Kayi was in touch with them.”

When she was first found by the shepherd, she was in a bad condition. The local police provided first aid and transported her to a primary healthcare centre in Sawantwadi taluka.

Given her condition, she was referred to a more advanced medical facility in Sindhudurg's Oros for further treatment.

She had claimed that she had been without food for 40 days and that her husband had abandoned her in the forest after an argument.

(With inputs from agencies)