Boy assaulted by mother's partner in Kerala;battling for life

Minor assaulted by mother's partner in Kerala's Thodupuzha. He is on ventilator support at a private hospital in Ernakulam. Accused arrested and Juvenile Justice Act have been slapped against him.

Thodupuzha (Ker): A seven-year-old boy wasleft with a cracked skull and is on ventilator support afterallegedly being assaulted by his mother's partner here, policesaid Friday.

The accused, Arun Anand, 36, who was arrested, has at least four cases against him, they said.

Various IPC sections, including 303 (attempt to murder),and Juvenile Justice Act have been slapped against him, apolice official said.

The boy, who suffered critical head injuries and bruisesall over, is battling for life.

A doctor treating him at a private medical collegehospital in Ernakulam district said the boy was on ventilatorsupport and there was no response from him.

Doctors are monitoring his situation and he is underobservation for 48 hours, according to hospital sources.The boy has a younger brother who is four years old.

Police have registered the statement of the child'smother, whose husband died 10 months ago after which theaccused began staying with them.

On Wednesday, the accused woke up the boy at 3 am, andstarted kicking and beating him as a punishment for bed-wetting by the younger sibling.

The accused allegedly hurled the child on the groundsmashing his head on an almirah and used a walking stick tobeat him up.

Though an emergency surgery was performed at a privatemedical college hospital at Kolenchery in Ernakulam district,his condition continues to be critical, hospital sourcessaid.

"His life is sustained completely on ventilator supportnow. The next 48 hours is critical... As per the latest scanreport, the blood circulation to the brain seems to have
stopped," a doctor said.

The boy has suffered a skull fracture, internal bleedingand lung injury, besides cuts and bruises all over his body.

The incident came to light after police and ChildHelpline authorities here received information about thechild's worsening health condition from a hospital here, where
he was initially taken.

The boy was later shifted to the hospital in Ernakulamfor emergency surgery.

Police said besides the victim, a second standardstudent, his 4-year-old brother also sustained injuries allover his body.

The younger sibling's statement has been recorded.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Fridaysought an immediate report from the Idukki districtauthorities on the incident.

He also directed the hospital authorities to ensureall possible expert treatment to the boy.

Health Minister K K Shylaja said the government willbear the child's treatment expenses.

The health and social justice departments will takeover the further protection of the boy and his youngerbrother, who is reportedly with some relatives now.

"Stringent action will be taken against those engagedin cruelty to children. The covering up of assaults againstchildren is also a grave crime," the minister said in astatement.