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Fom Israel to Tumakuru: Dad waits to reunite with daughters found in cave in Karnataka

Fom Israel to Tumakuru: Dad waits to reunite with daughters found in cave in Karnataka

Time of India18-07-2025
When Dror Goldstein, an Israeli musician, boarded a flight to India last week, his luggage carried more than just essentials — it held toys and small gifts for his two young daughters, Prema, 6, and Ama, 4.
Rushing to India after hearing the unexpected and unsettling news that his daughters had been found living in a remote cave near Gokarna, alongside their mother, Nina Kutina, a Russian national, Dror hoped for a reunion. But instead of meeting them, he finds himself navigating legal hurdles and procedural barriers.
It was a minor landslide on July 11 at Ramatirtha Hills of Gokarna that led local police to the cave. As part of a routine safety inspection, officers stumbled upon Nina and her daughters, who had been living in isolation for nearly three weeks.
"I had no idea they were living in a cave… By the time I got there, they had already left," said Dror, who rushed to India after hearing the news.
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Nina, according to police, has been living in India since 2017, initially on a business visa. After a brief trip to Nepal in 2018 to secure an exit permit, she returned and chose a life of seclusion in the forests of Gokarna, away from the structures of conventional living.
Dror and Nina had met in Goa in 2017 and lived together for several years in a relationship that eventually ended.
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Despite their separation, Dror maintained regular contact with the children, travelling to India every six months to see them.
"Nina always had a deep love for nature. That's why she chose to live in such a remote place. I respect her choices, but I worry for the children's safety," Dror said.
After the authorities intervened, Nina and her daughters were moved from Gokarna to a Foreigners Detention Centre (FDC) in Dibburu, Tumakuru.
Hearing this, Dror travelled there immediately, carrying gifts for his daughters. But the reunion he hoped for did not happen.
"I came all the way from Israel, but they wouldn't let me meet my daughters without official permission from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO)," Dror said, standing outside the centre, visibly disappointed.
Officials at the detention centre confirmed that visits are not allowed without the required paperwork, even for family members.
Dror has now travelled to Bengaluru to begin the legal process for visitation rights.
When asked whether he plans to take his daughters back to Israel, Dror's answer reflected both his personal turmoil and the complexities of the situation.
"I would love to, but the situation back home is complicated because of the war. More importantly, I will never take them without their mother's consent. Whatever she decides, I'll respect," he said.
For now, Dror waits in Bengaluru, hoping for permission to see his children and perhaps find a middle ground between his own concerns and Nina's unconventional life choices.
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