VELLARADA/ULLOOR: A five-year-old boy was seriously injured in a brutal beating by his drunken stepfather on Wednesday night. The injured Sreedev, son of Soumya of 'Gourisudha' in Pachalloor, is being treated at the Medical College Hospital. The child was beaten with a piece of wood by his stepfather. The LKG student's broken right arm was plastered.

The child has bruises and bruises all over his body. Aryankode police arrested Subin (24, of Kurangini in Mylachal in Neyyatinkara in connection with the incident. He was later remanded.

Four and a half months ago, Subin got married to Soumya. Subin was a bus driver at Pachallur LP School. Sridev goes to school in this bus. That acquaintance led to marriage. Soumya's first husband had died before.

After marriage, Soumya and Sridev settled in Mylachal with Subin. At first, Subin treated Sridev very lovingly. But on Wednesday night, Subin came home drunk and caused trouble. At around 10, when Soumya came running after hearing the child's screams, she found Sridev being beaten by Subin with a piece of wood. Soumya was also assaulted while trying to save the child.

After the ward member and locals called, the police took Sridev and Soumya to the SAT hospital. Then they were transferred to the Ortho department in MCH. After the incident, Subin escaped but was caught by the locals and handed over to the police. Aryankode police reached the hospital yesterday evening and recorded the statements of both.