Local police in Karnataka were stunned when a routine check turned into the discovery of an illegal immigrant. The police found a woman and her two young daughters living in a cave during a routine inspection following a landslide in the area near Gokarna. The discovery has left many in disbelief. But what appeared to be a case of abandonment and illegal settlement soon unfolded into a complex story of a mother and her choice for a certain kind of lifestyle.
Who are Nina Kutina and her daughters?
Nina Kutina is a woman in her 40s. She is from Russia and was found living in the cave with her two daughters, Preya, who is 6 years old and Ama, who is 4. They have been living deep within the rocky forests of Gokarna for a while now, and despite the lack of basic comforts, Nina said her children were happy and never in danger. She reportedly claimed that she gave birth to one of the girls when she lived in a cave in Goa. She told ANI:
“We have a lot of experience staying in nature, and we were not dying. I did not bring my children to die in the jungle…they were pleased.”