A routine patrol in Gokarna, Karnataka, India, led local police to an unexpected discovery: a 40-year-old Russian woman named Nina Kutina, also known as Mohi, and her two young daughters, Preya (6) and Ama (4), were living in a remote cave. The family had been residing in the Ramatirtha hills of Kumta taluk, Uttara Kannada district, for nearly two weeks, seeking spiritual solace in near-complete isolation.
According to authorities, Mohi had arrived in India several years ago on a business visa and eventually made her way from Goa to the spiritual town of Gokarna, drawn to Hinduism and Indian spiritual traditions. She chose to retreat into the forested hills with her children, making a home in a natural cave surrounded by dense vegetation and steep terrain. Inside, she had created a makeshift spiritual haven, complete with a Rudra idol, where she spent her days in puja and meditation.
Circle Inspector Sridhar and his team stumbled upon the cave during a post-landslide patrol. They noticed clothes hanging outside, which piqued their curiosity. Upon further investigation, they found Mohi and her daughters. Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police M Narayana expressed surprise at finding the family living in such seclusion, noting that they were unharmed and in reasonably good health.
Authorities are still investigating how Mohi and her children managed to survive in the wilderness, including how they obtained food and water. Police suspect she may have entered Karnataka from Goa before settling in Gokarna. The cave's location on Ramatirtha Hill was also a concern, as the area is prone to landslides and has a significant presence of snakes and other wildlife.
Further investigation revealed that Mohi's visa had expired in 2017. The exact duration of her stay in India remains unclear. Following the rescue, police arranged temporary accommodation for Mohi and her children at an ashram run by Sadhvi Yogaratna Saraswati Swamiji in Bankikodlu village, Kumta taluk. The Shankar Prasad Foundation, an NGO, is assisting with the case.
The Russian Embassy has been contacted, and deportation procedures have been initiated. Mohi and her daughters are expected to be moved to Bengaluru as part of the legal process. She is expected to be presented before the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) office in Shanthinagar, Bengaluru, on July 14, under police escort. Officials from the Department of Women and Child Welfare were brought in to assist.
