Kerala High Court Intervenes in Tragic Toddler Death Case
The Kerala High Court has taken the significant step of initiating a suo motu case concerning the tragic death of an 18-month-old toddler, Arshid, who allegedly suffered abuse at the hands of his mother’s live-in partner. The hearing, conducted by a Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syamkumar VM, has directed the State government to submit a detailed report on the measures implemented thus far in the investigation.
The Court emphasized the necessity of a thorough report, stating, “The Government Pleader takes notice for the respondents. The Government Pleader is directed to file a report in the form of an affidavit regarding the steps taken concerning the tragic death of the 1.5-year-old child, who succumbed to weeks of horrific systematic torture allegedly by his stepfather. The matter shall be listed after 1 week. A report on the progress of the investigation shall also be filed in a sealed envelope.”
Details of the Case and Arrests
On May 29, Arshid was urgently taken to a local hospital under the pretense that he had choked on food. Tragically, the toddler passed away shortly thereafter. A subsequent medical examination revealed not only several internal injuries but also external injuries, such as cigarette burns. Consequently, A Ashkar, the mother’s live-in partner, was apprehended on suspicions of physically abusing the child.
In a related development, the child’s mother, Akhila, aged 24, has also been charged and detained by the police amid accusations that she neglected to protect her child from the alleged abuse.
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Public Outrage and Further Investigation
The case has incited widespread public outrage, particularly following the circulation of a video on social media. The footage depicted Akhila holding Arshid, whose hands were in plaster casts. When queried, Akhila claimed that the injuries resulted from a fall off a cycle.
Following Arshid’s death, serious questions have been raised regarding the neglect and abuse he suffered before his demise. Arshid’s maternal grandmother asserted that she had previously reported her concerns regarding the child’s well-being to both the police and a child welfare officer, but no action was taken. An audio recording also surfaced, suggesting that the grandmother’s concerns were dismissed by a child welfare officer.
Court’s Concerns and Upcoming Proceedings
The High Court has expressed grave concern over these lapses, with Chief Justice Soumen Sen questioning, “Why did the Women and Child Development Department not take any action despite the grandmother filing a complaint?” The Court is scheduled to review the matter further in a week.
