Wild discovery: Indian police spot Russian woman, daughters living in remote cave

A Russian woman and her two young daughters were recently found living in a remote and risky cave perched atop Ramatirtha Hill in Karnataka’s Gokarna.

The discovery was made on the evening of July 9 when Inspector Sridhar SR and his team from Gokarna Police Station were patrolling the area to ensure the safety of tourists.

While patrolling through the dense forest, they spotted movement near a cave in a landslide-prone, hazardous zone.

Upon closer inspection, they found 40-year-old Nina Kutina, a Russian national, along with her daughters Prema (6 years, 7 months) and Ama (4 years), huddled in a makeshift shelter.

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When asked about her situation, Nina explained that she had travelled from Goa to Gokarna in search of spiritual peace. She said she had chosen the forest cave for meditation and prayer, seeking solitude away from city life.

While her motives were spiritual, authorities were alarmed by the danger this posed to her children.

Area prone to landslides, dangerous wildlife

Ramatirtha Hill, where the cave is located, was hit by a major landslide in July 2024 and is known for its dangerous wildlife, including venomous snakes, making it an especially risky spot.

After counselling Nina about the hazards, the police team safely rescued the family and guided them down the hill.

At her request, they were placed in an ashram in Bankikodla village, Kumta taluk, run by 80-year-old female monk Swami Yogaratna Saraswati.

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As the investigation deepened, Nina was hesitant to discuss her passport and visa status.

With gentle encouragement from police, welfare officers, and the ashram head, she admitted her documents might be lost in the cave.

A joint effort by Gokarna Police and Forest Department officials recovered her passport and visa, revealing she’d entered India on a Business Visa valid until April 17, 2017.

An Exit Permit from FRRO Panaji, Goa, dated April 19, 2018, showed she’d left for Nepal and re-entered India on September 8, 2018, overstaying her legal limit.

Due to this visa violation, Nina and her daughters were moved to the Women’s Reception Centre in Karwar, managed by the Department of Women and Child Development, where they’re now in protective custody.

The Superintendent of Police, Uttara Kannada, has started coordinating with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Bengaluru to arrange their deportation to Russia, and the family will soon face further proceedings there.