Russian Woman Living with Children in Forest Cave Rescued Near Gokarna

BM TEAM

Gokarna (Uttara Kannada) : A 40-year-old Russian woman who had been living with her two young children in a remote cave deep within the forests of Gokarna was rescued by local police during a routine patrol.

The woman, identified as Mohi (40), was found residing in a cave located in the Ramateertha forest area of Gokarna, along with her children, Preya (6) and Ama (4). Police from the Gokarna station, led by Circle Inspector Sridhar, were conducting a patrol in the region due to recent landslide activity when they discovered the small family.

Mohi, who had traveled from Russia to Goa and eventually made her way to Gokarna, had been living a secluded life in the forest cave, engaging in spiritual practices near a small idol of Rudra that she had placed there. Concerned about the safety risks posed by potential landslides, wild animals, and reptiles in the area, police tried to persuade her to leave the location with her children —a task that proved challenging.

Eventually, honoring her wishes, the police relocated her to an ashram in Kumta. However, upon arrival, officers became suspicious and requested to see her passport. After initially offering various excuses, Mohi claimed she had lost it. A search of the cave later revealed her passport, which showed that her visa had expired on April 17, 2017.

To ensure the safety and well-being of the woman and her children, authorities admitted them to a women’s shelter operated by the Department of Women and Child Welfare. The incident has been reported to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Bengaluru, and steps are being taken to arrange for her and her children’s return to Russia.

Mohi is believed to have been drawn to India in pursuit of spiritual fulfillment and chose to live in isolation within nature. She and her children had been surviving in a dark, damp cave on the unstable slopes of Ramateertha hill, far from civilization, until their discovery on July 9.