Child murdered at Kalikavu subjected to brutal torture, reveals post-mortem

The postmortem examination of a twoyearold girl allegedly killed by her father at Udarampoyil, near Kalikavu, on Sunday has revealed that the child was subjected to brutal torture.

The child had multiple injuries on its body. The postmortem examination revealed that she had died much before she was brought to a private hospital. The girl died of haemorrhage in the brain. She had broken ribs, head injury, and marks of brutal beating on her body. The police said the father attacked the child out of his anger towards his wife.

He was taken into custody on Monday. The police slapped charges of murder under the Indian Penal Code Section 302. He was also booked under Juvenile Justice Act Section 75 for cruelty to child. He had brought his child to the hospital claiming that she had choked. On finding the child brought dead, the doctors alerted the police.

The police said they were investigating if anyone else was involved in the attack on the child.

Suo motu case

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday ordered initiation of suo motu proceedings in the case. Justice Devan Ramachandran, while passing the order, observed that the incident shocked the conscience of the court and certainly it must be an eyeopener.

As per media reports, though complaints had been levelled against the accused earlier, the police did not take it seriously, the court noted.

The court observed that when children were involved and became victims of any violence, the court was enjoined to act under the “parens patriae jurisdiction” notwithstanding whether the perpetrator was the father or any of their near relatives.

The court could not ignore the cries of the child who must have suffered immeasurably when attacked, if one went by the news reports.

The court said there should be some protocol so that the police would be in a position to intervene when such incidents were brought to their attention.

The court proposed to make the State Police Chief, Superintendent of Police, Malappuram, and the Station House Officer concerned as respondents in the case.

Child’s father taken into custody; police probing if anyone else is involved in torturing the child