The mother of a nine-year-old boy, who was found locked up in his home in Adimali, Idukki district on Tuesday with injuries all over his body, has been arrested.

Noufal, who was brutalised by his own parents, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Kalamassery Medical College.

His mother Saleena (30), who had been initially detained by the police at a state women's home as she has a three-month-old infant to take care of, was formally arrested on Friday morning. She was produced before Devikulam court and remanded to police custody till September 8.

She has been charged with IPC Sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 326b (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), Section 34 and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Noufal’s father Naseer was recently arrested by excise officials for keeping ganja with him. It was after his arrest that Noufal’s plight came to light.

Police said that Naseer and Saleena were drug addicts, and they used to take drugs in front of children.