- By Raju Kumar
- Tue, 02 Jun 2026 03:34 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kerala News: A one-and-a-half-year-old toddler was brutally murdered in the Nedumangad area, just 20 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. The deceased, Arsheed, was physically tortured and beaten to death by his stepfather, Ashkar.
Mother's Involvement In Murder
The child's mother, 21-year-old Akhila, remained a mute spectator when her live-in partner attacked the child. The incident has raised serious questions about domestic violence and the safety of children in live-in relationships. In her statement to the police, Akhila admitted that she had seen her live-in partner beating the child with her hands and a stick, but she did not resist.
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False Claim of Suffocation
On the evening of May 29, the child was first taken to a private hospital in Panavur, then referred to Sri Avittam Thirunal (SAT) Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Ashkar told hospital staff that the child choked while eating. Following suspicion and protests from relatives, the police began investigating the case.
51 Injury Marks On Body
The postmortem report revealed a shocking revelation. The child died from internal bleeding caused by repeated beatings. Fifty-one severe injuries were found all over the child's body, including a deep wound on his private parts and cigarette burn marks on his feet.
On the night of May 30, Nedumangad police arrested both Ashkar and Akhila. The court remanded them to judicial custody. On June 1, the police took Ashkar to the scene and recreated the scene. The stick and lighter used for beating were recovered.
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What Was The Motive Behind Brutal Murder?
During interrogation, Ashkar confessed to the crime, saying he had decided to kill Arsheed three months earlier. For the past month, he had been physically abusing the child daily. Ashkar considered the child a hindrance to his and Akhila's lives.
On the day of the incident, when Arsheed was crying loudly, Ashkar fatally struck him on the head. After ensuring the child's death, he cleaned the house, removed the evidence, and took him to the hospital. Ashkar confessed that he had previously stuffed a cloth into the child's mouth to prevent screams. He threw the objects used for beating and burning into the canal or burned them.
A month before the murder, Arshid broke both of his arms. When neighbours asked, Ashkar claimed the child fell from a bicycle. Akhila also posted a photo of the injured child on her WhatsApp status.
On May 16, during a meeting with a social media influencer, plasters were visible on the child's hands. Police later found the plasters abandoned in the house.
(With Jagran.com Inputs)