MALAPPURAM: Two children were found locked up at Mampad in the district. There were also beat marks on their bodies. The incident was at a house where migrant labourers are staying. The children said they were abused by their father and stepmother. It is not clear whether they were their own parents.

The couple locked the children aged six and four in the house. The locals rushed the starving children to the hospital. The locals said the couple leave their children home without giving any food or water. The police have taken the parents into custody.

The locals informed the panchayat authorities about the incident. The authorities broke opened the door and found the children lying in a very weak condition. The children who have not had food for days were not able to stand or walk properly. The younger child was not even able to open its eyes.

The condition of the children has improved a bit after giving water and biscuits. The locals demanded that the couple should be questioned in detail and make sure whether the children are theirs. When they were questioned, they said that the children were their own and that they locked the children at home to prevent them from going out.