A startling mystery unfolded when police discovered a Russian woman and her two young daughters residing in a secluded forest cave in India earlier this month.

Nina Kutina, 40, along with her daughters, aged six and five, were located by police on 9 July during a routine patrol of Ramatirtha Hill, a well-known tourist destination on the Karnataka coast.

The cave is situated near the hills of the Gokarna forest, bordering Goa, an area rich with diverse wildlife and animals.

M Narayana, superintendent of police for the Uttara Kannada district, told the BBC: "The area attracts many tourists, especially foreigners. However, it's inhabited by numerous snakes and is susceptible to landslides, particularly during the rainy season. To enhance tourist safety, we initiated forest patrols last year."

Authorities report that the family had been residing in the cave for over a week without possessing the necessary documentation to remain in India.

The enigma of a Russian woman discovered living in a cave in India has captivated global attention (Karnataka Police Department)

Police further stated that steps are underway to repatriate Kutina to Russia due to her visa overstay. Meanwhile, she and her children have been relocated to a nearby detention center for foreigners residing illegally in the country.

The family underwent a health check-up at a nearby hospital and were found to be in good health.

A spokesperson mentioned that Kutina spent her time in the cave meditating by candlelight and informed the investigating officers of her desire to ‘live in the forest and worship God’.

Even after more than a week since their discovery, there remains little clarity on what precisely occurred or the reasons behind their presence there.

The mother informed the police that she had been employed as a Russian language tutor in Goa, and authorities noted that her presence there was driven by a love for adventure.

Inside the cave, police discovered pictures of Hindu deities adorning the walls where the family had been living.

A photograph provided by the police shows her standing in front of makeshift curtains crafted from red saris, which covered the cave's entrance.

Officials also revealed that Kutina sent a message to her friends after being discovered, stating: "Our peaceful life in the cave has ended - our cave home destroyed."

The mother needed convincing to leave the cave, where she had lived for at least a week (Karnataka Police Department)

On Tuesday (15 July), she informed the news agency Press Trust of India that she spent her days in the cave painting, singing, reading books, and living peacefully with her children.

Narayana told the BBC: "The woman and her children seemed quite at ease in the location. Convincing her of the dangers of living there took some time."

However, the mother simply replied: "Animals and snakes are our friends. Humans are dangerous."

In an interview with India’s ANI news agency, as reported by the BBC, she added: "It's not about spirituality. We just appreciate nature because it provides us with health... it's a significant health benefit, unlike living in a home.

"We were not in danger, and I didn't bring my daughters here to perish in the jungle. They were very happy; they swam in the waterfall, had a comfortable place for sleeping, and engaged in numerous art lessons. We crafted with clay, painted, enjoyed good food, and I cooked very delicious food."

During the interview, she reportedly confirmed having four children aged between five and 20 years.

Kutina mentioned that her eldest son tragically passed away in a road accident in Goa last year, and officials have noted that her second son, who is 11, is currently in Russia.

Adding to the mystery, the father of the young girls, Israeli businessman Dror Goldstein, told NDTV that Kutina had allegedly left Goa with his daughters without notifying him, prompting him to file a missing complaint with the police.