BANGALURU, July 13: In a striking story of survival, faith, and maternal devotion, a 40-year-old Russian national, Nina Kutina—also known as Mohi—was discovered by police living in near-total isolation with her two daughters in a forest cave on the slopes of Ramatirtha Hill near Gokarna, in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district.

Kutina had been residing illegally in India for over eight years, having overstayed her visa in 2017. For the past two months, she and her daughters, Preya (6) and Ama (4), lived in a makeshift shelter deep within the jungle, disconnected from society and surviving on modest rations and natural resources.

Both children were born in India and had never ventured beyond the dense forest surroundings. According to police, Kutina declined to provide any information about the children's father.

Inside the concealed cave—situated in a landslide-prone, snake-infested area—officers found spiritual paraphernalia, including a Rudra idol, images of Hindu deities, and Russian books. Kutina reportedly conducted daily pujas (rituals), practiced yoga and meditation with her daughters, and encouraged drawing, singing, and storytelling as part of their routine. They slept on plastic sheets and relied solely on daylight, even during the harsh monsoon.

Her commitment to a minimalist, spiritual life was evident. “Snakes are our friends,” she told police officers who rescued her. “They won’t harm us unless we harm them.” She claimed the reptiles often slithered nearby while they bathed in waterfalls, but said she never felt fear.

The family was discovered on July 9 during a routine police patrol, after officers noticed sarees and plastic sheets near a forested trail. To their astonishment, they found Kutina and her daughters alive and well in the treacherous terrain. Despite the obvious dangers—including venomous wildlife and unstable terrain—Kutina was initially reluctant to leave her sanctuary.

Police convinced her to relocate, citing the risk to her children’s safety. She was escorted to a local ashram in Kumta taluk, run by an 80-year-old female Swamiji affiliated with the Shankara Prasad Foundation.

“This is unlike anything I’ve seen in my 18 years of service,” said Sub-Inspector Sridhar S. R., who led the operation. “She took remarkable care of her children—they were healthy, curious, and thrilled to see electricity and beds for the first time.”

The next morning, Sridhar received a WhatsApp message in Russian. “She thanked us but expressed sadness at having to leave the forest, which she described as her spiritual home,” he said.

Kutina arrived in India in 2016 on a business visa and spent time in Goa before traveling to the temple town of Gokarna. Deeply moved by Hindu philosophy, she gradually distanced herself from mainstream society. When her visa expired in April 2017, she chose not to leave India, instead retreating into the forest to avoid immigration authorities.

In 2018, she briefly exited to Nepal with an exit permit but soon returned and vanished into the dense wilderness of the Uttara Kannada district.

Authorities believe she traveled on foot from Goa to her eventual hideout in Ramatirtha Hill, a journey that underscores her determination to remain in spiritual solitude.

Initially reluctant to share her identity, Kutina later informed authorities that she had lost her passport and visa. However, a search of the cave and surrounding area led officials to recover the original documents, confirming her visa had expired on April 17, 2017.

Kutina and her daughters have since been placed under the care of the Women’s Reception Centre, and legal procedures for their deportation are now in progress. They are scheduled to appear before the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Shanthinagar, Bengaluru, on July 14, under the supervision of a female police officer.

While her future remains uncertain, Nina Kutina’s extraordinary journey—marked by unwavering spiritual devotion, deep resilience, and a life completely entwined with nature—has captivated both officials and the public alike.