A chargesheet has been filed in the death of a seven-year-old boy in Kerala, who was brutally attacked by his mother's partner. Thodupuzha Deputy SP KP Jose on Tuesday submitted the chargesheet before the Muttam First Class Magistrate Court in Idukki.
"As per the chargesheet, Thiruvananthapuram Nanthancode native Arun Anand (36), partner of the boy's mother, has been named the first accused and the mother is the second accused of the case," KP Jose said.
"On June 21, we submitted another chargesheet before the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) court against the accused Arun Anand, who sexually abused the sibling of the seven-year-old boy. The trial of the two cases will begin soon," the DySP added.
The police said the chargesheet included sections for murder, delaying of treatment and suppressing facts.
Arun Anand brutally attacked his partner's seven-year-old son around midnight on March 28. The boy was admitted to Chazhikattu Hospital, Thodapuzha, in a serious condition and later shifted to Kolanchery Medical College. He was placed on a ventilator and after a 10-day struggle for survival, the boy died on April 6.
It had also been revealed through CCTV footage at the private hospital that Arun and the mother had tried to delay treatment for the child after the trauma.
Arun continues to remain in judicial custody. The boy’s mother was arrested for suppression of facts but was later released on bail.
Last week, the Idukki District Child Welfare Committee (CWC) handed over the protection of the boy’s younger brother to his paternal grandfather for a period of two months. Recently, the maternal grandmother of the child filed a Habeas Corpus plea before the High Court to seek the protection of the child. The court then ordered that the child be produced before the CWC.
Joseph Augustine, Chairman of Child Welfare Committee, Idukki said, "As per the court direction, the child was produced before the CWC. Then, the CWC meeting decided to hand over the protection of the kid to the paternal grandfather. We directed the paternal grandfather to allow the maternal grandmother to visit the kid."
The health condition of the child is stable. CWC has directed Dr Jayaprakash, assistant professor in the child psychiatry wing of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, to examine the child and submit a report to CWC. "After the report, we will take further steps regarding the protection of the kid," said Joseph.