Baby falling during Garudan Thookkam; police register suo motu case accusing performer

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Adoor police registered a suo moto case in the incident of a ten-month-old baby falling to the ground from the hands of a person performing the rite of Garudan Thookkam. The case is against Sinu, a native of Adoor, one of the three performers, who was holding the baby in his hands. The FIR said the baby fell and sustained injuries due to his carelessness. The baby fell from the hands of him performing the rite of Garudan Thookkam, hanging by his chest from a tall decorated cart.

The incident happened on Saturday night. The baby fell to the ground during Garudan Thookkam ritual at the famous Ezhamkulam Devi Temple in Pathanamthitta. The baby was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital and is under treatment. The hospital authorities informed that the condition of the baby is stable and that there is no need to worry. With the visuals of the incident going viral on social media, criticism was being raised that the ritual was performed without necessary security measures. The chairman of State Child Rights Commission had directed the district child protection committee to take action in the incident.