KOYILANDY: Police termed the death of the 12-year-old boy who ate ice cream as murder. Ahmed Hasan Rifai (12), the son of Arikulam Koroth Muhammadali, had died in a private hospital in Kozhikode the other day. The police arrested the child's paternal sister Tahira (34).

After poisoning the family pack of ice cream, Tahira delivered it to her brother's house. Since the mother and siblings were not at home, only the child ate the ice cream and this was followed by vomiting. Ahmed sought treatment at a clinic in Muthambi and at Meppayur near his home. Since he did not recover, he was admitted to the Koilandi Taluk Hospital on Monday morning but was referred to the Kozhikode Medical College. Ahmed was then admitted to a private hospital but his life could not be saved.

After the child's death, the Health Department, Food Safety Department, Police, and Forensic Department took a sample from the ice cream shop in Arikkulam and closed it after testing the sample. After the discovery of ammonium phosphorus in the post-mortem report, the police took statements from many people. It was then confirmed that it was a murder.