"Elated by her choice": Russian mother justifies cohabitation with two daughters in secluded Indian cavern
In a surprising turn of events, a 40-year-old Russian woman named Nina Kutina and her two young daughters, aged 6 and 4, were discovered living in a remote cave deep in the forests of southern India. The family had been living in the cave for an undisclosed period, with some reports suggesting it was over two weeks, while others claim it was for years.
Nina Kutina arrived in India on a business visa in 2016 and re-entered the country in 2018 after a brief visit to Nepal. However, she overstayed her visa and remained undetected until July 9, when authorities found them on Ramatirtha Hill, a landslide-prone tourist site on the coast of southern Karnataka state.
According to M Narayana, the police superintendent of the area, Kutina had been living in the cave to avoid authorities after overstaying her visa. The location's remoteness and the family's isolated lifestyle allowed them to remain undetected for such a long time. Narayana also mentioned that Kutina's continued presence in India without the knowledge of local authorities was a security concern.
During an interview with India's ANI news agency, Kutina expressed that her family was not dying and her daughters were very happy. She defended her decision to live off the grid with her daughters, describing a life of swimming in waterfalls, painting, and doing pottery. Kutina also mentioned that her family had lived in four countries before they went to India in 2017.
However, Kutina did not reveal whether her children were born in India or Russia, and she did not disclose details about her and her children's passports and visas. M Narayana stated that Kutina was reluctant to provide these details. He also mentioned that Kutina told authorities she had a son who died in Goa.
Kutina and her children have been moved to a nearby detention facility specifically for foreigners illegally in India. Officials are taking steps to repatriate Kutina and her children to Russia. CNN has sought comment from the Russian embassy.
This unusual story highlights the lengths some individuals will go to evade authorities and live a life off the grid. It also underscores the importance of proper immigration procedures and the potential security risks associated with undetected long-term stays in remote areas.
The family's isolated lifestyle in the cave on Ramatirtha Hill, deep within southern Karnataka, was a result of Nina Kutina's decision to avoid authorities after overstaying her visa in India. Despite their unconventional home-and-garden setting of a cave, Kutina spoke fondly of their outdoor-living, including swimming in waterfalls, painting, and pottery, as shared with India's ANI news agency. The incident also serves as a general news story, emphasizing the security concerns and potential risks associated with crime-and-justice scenarios, such as undetected long-term stays in remote regions and proper immigration procedures.
