Clipped nails before interrogation; Police to take Child Welfare Committee caretakers into custody

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The museum police will take custody of the caretakers, arrested for brutally injuring the genitals of a toddler at Child Welfare Committee. After detailed interrogation, evidence will be taken after bringing them to the Child Welfare Committee. The wound was inflicted on the female child's genitals as a punishment for wetting the bed.

Ajitha (49), a resident of Andoorkonam; Maheshwari (49), a resident of Ayiroopara; Sindhu (47), a resident of Navaikulam, will be taken into custody. The police recorded the statements of 70 people in the incident. Before appearing for the interrogation, the maids had their nails clipped and trimmed. The long nails were used for injuring the toddler’s genitals.

It is reported that the caretakers had hatched a plan to punish the girl child for often urinating on the bed. Ajitha, the main accused, in a candid talk with others once revealed about torturing the child. It is also indicated that they had harassed other children as well. Sindhu and Maheshwari, despite knowing the torture, decided to keep quiet and not inform the officials.

Ajitha was assigned the duty of bathing the child so the incident never saw light. While bathing, the toddler used to cry in pain but Ajitha cared less. Last week, a new caretaker was assigned duty and the child screamed in pain while bathing. When checked, the caretaker found serious injuries on the toddler's genitals. The caretaker then passed the information to the authorities and the news came out.

Women and Child Development Department Principal Secretary Sharmila Mary Joseph and Child Rights Commission Chairman KV Manoj Kumar visited the Child Welfare Committee on Wednesday.