Kerala Toddler’s Death Uncovers Alleged Pattern of Abuse; Stepfather Arrested

Thiruvananthapuram: The death of one-and-a-half-year-old Arshid in Kerala has exposed what investigators describe as a prolonged pattern of physical abuse allegedly inflicted by his stepfather, Ashkar, 31. The child, who died on May 29, had appeared in a widely shared social media video earlier this month with both hands in plaster casts. At the time, his mother, Akhila, claimed the injuries were caused by a fall from a bicycle. However, a post-mortem examination revealed extensive internal injuries, including bleeding in the head, prompting police to arrest Ashkar on charges related to the boy’s death. Investigators said the toddler bore nearly 50 injury marks of varying ages across his body, including suspected cigarette burn marks.

Police said the abuse had allegedly continued over an extended period and that Akhila, 24, was aware of the assaults but failed to intervene or alert authorities. She is likely to be included in the chargesheet as the investigation progresses. The case came to light after Ashkar took the child to a hospital claiming he had choked while eating lunch. Arshid was later declared dead at SAT Hospital. Investigators also found that relatives had previously raised concerns about the child’s safety, while reports suggest the boy’s grandparents had alerted police about suspected abuse earlier. The probe is continuing under the supervision of the Nedumangad DySP.

📰 Source: dnaindia.com (English)