Kochi: Tortured child in critical condition

Kochi: In a suspected case of physical torture, a three-year-old boy was admitted to Rajagiri Hospital at Aluva on Wednesday in a critical condition with a serious head injury and internal bleeding.

The father of the child, who is a migrant labourer, claimed that the child fell from the hands of the mother, causing the injury. However, as there were other injuries on the child's body that did not match with the father's claim, the police are investigating whether abuse by a family member caused the injury.  

It was the hospital authorities who got suspicious after they noticed burn injuries and other wound marks that were two to three days old.

Around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, the child was brought to the hospital and was on ventilator support. He was later taken for neuro surgery around 8 p.m.

According to hospital sources, the father wanted the child to be taken to Kottayam medical college. But as it was too risky to transport the child in a critical condition, he agreed to keep him here, a hospital source said.

The hospital authorities intimated the Childline following which the police were called and the officers visited the hospital at night.

 The child was at first admitted to another hospital. Considering the condition of the child, they referred the child to Rajagiri for better treatment, a source said.

According to Eloor police, a case will be registered after getting clarity on what happened.

They took the statement of the father late in the night. "There is a suspicion that the child's mother tortured him which caused the injury. We are checking both the sides, including the claim by his father that the child fell off the hands of the mother. An investigation is underway," said a police officer.