An American woman who was found chained to a tree in the Indian jungle had shackled herself, police have revealed.
Lalita Kayi Kumar, 50, was found in a dense forest near Sonurli village, roughly 280miles from Mumbai, about 10 days ago after a local shepherd heard her distressing cries for help.
She was taken to a local hospital where she scrawled a message detailing some of her ordeal, including accusing her ‘husband’ of leaving her in the forest for 40 days.
Kumar, who is receiving treatment in a psychiatric facility, has now admitted she is not married and was likely suffering from hallucinations when she gave her statement to authorities, police told the BBC.
She also reportedly told investigators she purchased the locks and chain and shackled herself to the tree after having been ‘distressed’ because her visa had expired and she was running out of money.
Lalita Kayi Kumar, 50, was found tied to a tree in a dense forest near Sonurli village, roughly 280miles from Mumbai, on July 27 by a local cattle herder
Kumar, who appeared emaciated, was transported to a local hospital where she received treatment for various issues including dehydration and later moved to a psychiatric facility
Police sawed off the chain and carried her out of the woods on a stretcher. She was transported her to a local hospital where she received treatment for various issues including dehydration and later moved to a psychiatric facility
A local cattle herder found Kumar, who appeared emaciated, on July 27 after he heard ‘a woman screaming loudly’ from within the forest.
‘When I went there, I saw that one of her legs was tied to a tree,’ her rescuer recalled. ‘She was screaming like an animal. I called other villagers and the local police.’
Police sawed off the chain and carried her out of the woods on a stretcher. She was transported her to a local hospital where she received treatment for various issues including dehydration and later moved to a psychiatric facility.
Initially unable to speak, Kumar communicated with police and her doctors by scribbling on a notepad.
Footage recorded from inside the hospital showed Kumar writing a note about her condition in which she claimed her former husband had left her in the forest for dead after a domestic dispute. She also alleged to have not eaten in 40 days.
According to the BBC, investigators had been skeptical of Kumar’s story because it is ‘unlikely’ that one survive going nearly a month without food or water.
Kumar (pictured tied to the tree) has now reportedly admitted to having purchased herself the locks and chain herself. She also allegedly said she shackled herself to the tree after having been ‘distressed’ because her visa had expired and she was running out of money
Initially unable to speak, Kumar communicated with police and her doctors in the hospital by scribbling on a notepad
Kumar wrote in a letter from her hospital bed claiming her ‘former husband’ had left her in the forest for dead after a domestic dispute. She also alleged to have not eaten in 40 days. She has since reportedly admitted that she is not married and was likely suffering from hallucinations when she gave her statement to authorities
Police recovered a photocopy of her passport – which stated she was an US citizen from Massachusetts – and a national identity card revealing her home address in Tamil Nadu from the scene.
She also had a mobile phone, tablet and 31,000 rupees ($370) in her possession.
Officials have traced her family in America and Kumar is understood to have communicated with them on the phone.
Dr Sanghamitra Phule, superintendent of the hospital where Kumar is currently being treated, says her ‘condition is improving’.
He told the broadcaster she is eating, walking and exercising, as well as being given ‘some nutrients that her body was lacking’.
