'Burned, suffocated, beaten': Kerala toddler dies after stepfather's 1-month torture
'Burned, suffocated, beaten': Kerala toddler dies after stepfather's 1-month torture
A 1.5-year-old boy was allegedly tortured for almost two months and killed by his stepfather in Kerala's Nedumangad.
The child, identified as Arshid, was taken to a private hospital on May 29 after his stepfather claimed that he had choked on food and fallen unconscious. He was later declared dead at Sree Avittom Thirunal Hospital.
His stepfather, Ashkar, initially claimed the child choked while eating lunch but post-mortem revealed internal bleeding from repeated beatings as the cause of death.
Boy had 51 injuries all over body
The post-mortem examination revealed 51 injuries on Arshid's body, including a deep injury to his genitals and cigarette burn marks on his legs.
Ashkar and Arshid's mother Akhila were arrested on May 30 after relatives raised suspicion about the death.
During interrogation, Ashkar admitted to abusing Arshid for the past month and admitted he planned to kill him three months ago.
Akhila reportedly knew Ashkar was torturing Arshid but did nothing. She is likely to be included in the chargesheet.
Boy and mother appeared in viral video
Signs that the boy was being tortured were apparent from last month, when he and his mother met a content creator, who gave them gifts for following his Instagram account.
In a viral video of their meeting, the boy is seen with both hands in plaster casts.
At the time, Akhila had claimed he fell from a bicycle when asked by the YouTuber about his injuries.
The same casts were found abandoned in their compound during evidence collection.
Grandparents suspected abuse and reported it
According to reports, the child's grandparents had previously reported suspected repeated abuse on their grandson to the police, but no action was taken at the time.
However, after his death, relatives questioned the stepfather's account and alerted the police.
During the investigation, it was discovered that on May 29, when the toddler cried, Ashkar hit him in the head.
After confirming the child's death, he cleaned the house and erased evidence before transporting the child to the hospital.
Akhila told authorities she could not care for her kid
In the weeks before the child's death, Ashkar repeatedly shoved a cloth into his mouth to stifle his screams.
He admitted to discarding the objects used to beat and burn the toddler into a canal, then burning what remained.
Following her husband's death, Akhila reportedly told authorities that she could not care for her kid.
The boy was later cared for by her mother, while Akhila lived with Ashkar without being legally married to him.
Man had brutally abused 1st wife too
The inquiry into the case has also revealed the accused's history of violence toward his first wife, Amina.
On May 31, Amina's mother, Shajila Beevi, told the media that Ashkar had physically abused her daughter throughout their marriage. Ashkar allegedly repeatedly smashed her head against a wall, attempted to hang her from a ceiling fan, and poured a corrosive substance into her mouth.
Amina was unconscious for 13 months, two of which she spent on a ventilator, her mother said.