Two-year-old dies in Alappuzha; Child Rights Commission takes suo motu cognisance

ALAPPUZHA: The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken suo motu cognisance of the death of a two-year-old boy in Karthikappally, Haripad, in Alappuzha district. Police have decided to conduct a further investigation into the incident. According to the post-mortem report, the child died due to malnutrition and a lack of proper care. Rahul, the son of Rajesh and Thara, who lived at Valiyakulangara in Mahadevikadu, Karthikappally, was found dead at home on Sunday morning.

Key details emerged during the post-mortem examination at Alappuzha Medical College Hospital. Thrikkunnapuzha Station House Officer (SHO) said the child’s body bore no suspicious wounds or other external injuries. The cause of death would become clearer only after the complete post-mortem report was received, the officer said.

As Thara had been admitted to hospital for her seventh delivery, only the children and their father were at home. The father claimed that Rahul had died after milk became lodged in his throat. Local residents have called for a detailed investigation into Rahul’s death, pointing to the earlier death of another son of the couple during the COVID-19 period. The child had reportedly died after falling to the ground from someone’s arms. The couple had six children before Thara’s latest delivery: four daughters and two sons, one of whom was Rahul and the other the boy who had died earlier.

The family had been living in a single room at the house of one of Rajesh’s relatives. Local residents alleged that Rajesh and Thara consumed alcohol and that the children were often given only bread to eat. They further alleged that the couple did not have regular jobs and spent the money they earned on alcohol.

With the help of local residents, Thara was taken to Alappuzha Medical College Hospital on Saturday evening for delivery. She gave birth to a boy on Sunday. Meanwhile, the other children were taken into the care of the Child Welfare Committee on an emergency basis and moved to a safe shelter.