'Watched stepfather beating me, didn't try to interrupt'; Seven-year-old boy's statement against mother

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Soon after arresting the stepfather for brutally beating a seven-year-old boy, the police on Thursday confirmed the arrest of the boy’s mother. Anjana, a native of Pattassery was arrested based on the statement provided by her injured son. A case has been registered against them on charges of attempted murder and causing injury with a deadly weapon. The child has been transferred to the Child Welfare Committee.

The boy had earlier given a statement that his mother just watched the torture as a mere spectator and bothered not to stop it. Anjana was arrested after a detailed interrogation.

In the complaint, it says that the stepfather on most days would hurt the boy by burning his abdomen with a fried pan and then later hang the child from the fan as a punishment. The information came to light when Anu's relatives got suspicious after seeing the injuries on the child's body. Later a complaint was lodged with the police.

Anjana, who came out from her first marriage was in a live-in relationship with her cousin Anu for the past year. She testified to police about not stopping the attack on her child as she feared getting beaten up by Anu.