US Woman Found Chained In India Says She Did It Herself: Police

A 50-year-old American woman, Lalita Kayi, was found chained to a tree and "screaming" in the forests of Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district in western India. Kayi, who had shackled herself, according to the police, was rescued around ten days ago after shepherds heard her cries for help.

In an initial written statement to the police, Kayi claimed that her husband had "chained her and left her in the forest to die without food or water." However, Sindhudurg's superintendent of police, Saurabh Agarwal, informed BBC Marathi that Kayi has since recanted her statement. She now says she is not married and believes she was hallucinating when she made her earlier claims. According to police, she admitted to being distressed over her expired visa and dwindling funds, which led her to purchase chains and lock herself to the tree.

Kayi, currently receiving treatment at a psychiatric facility, has not made any public statements. The US embassy has declined to comment, citing her privacy rights. Dr. Sanghamitra Phule, the superintendent of the psychiatric hospital, reported that Kayi's condition is improving, stating, "She eats, walks, and exercises. We are treating her and providing nutrients her body lacked." Dr. Phule also confirmed that Kayi is in contact with her family in the US.

Kayi was discovered on 27 July by a cow herder who heard her screams while grazing his cattle. The herder found her leg chained to a tree and called for help from local villagers and the police, who then rescued her by sawing off the chain. She was initially taken to a hospital for physical treatment before being transferred to the psychiatric facility.

Upon her rescue, police found a copy of Kayi's passport, confirming her as a US citizen from Massachusetts, along with documents indicating a home address in Tamil Nadu, a mobile phone, a tablet, and 31,000 rupees (approximately NZ$620).

Initially unable to speak, Kayi communicated with authorities and medical staff by writing notes. She claimed to have been married to a man in Tamil Nadu and accused him of chaining her to the tree, further stating she had been without food and water for 40 days. However, the police have questioned the plausibility of this claim, noting the unlikelihood of surviving such a period without sustenance.