A Russian woman and her two daughters were discovered living in a hazardous cave atop Ramatirtha Hill in Karnataka’s Gokarna, prompting their rescue and triggering a visa violation inquiry.
The incident unfolded on July 9, when Inspector Sridhar SR and Gokarna police, during a routine patrol, noticed movement near a landslide-prone cave deep in the forest. Inside, they found Nina Kutina (40) with daughters Prema (6) and Ama (4).
Nina told authorities she left Goa seeking spiritual seclusion and meditation, choosing the remote cave to avoid urban distractions. However, police stressed the grave risks, including venomous wildlife and unstable terrain, especially after a major landslide in July 2024.
After counselling, the family was moved to an ashram in Bankikodla village, run by Swami Yogaratna Saraswati, as per Nina’s request. When officers asked about her documents, she hesitated but eventually admitted her passport and visa were likely lost in the cave.
A search recovered the papers, revealing she entered India on a Business Visa valid until April 2017, later overstaying her permitted duration despite an exit and re-entry via Nepal in 2018.
Police shifted the family to the Women’s Reception Centre in Karwar. The Uttara Kannada SP has contacted the FRRO Bengaluru to arrange deportation.