CHITTOOR: A four-year-old boy was strangled to death by his relative at Kozhinjampara Vannamada in Palakkad. The dead is Rithik, son of Madhusoodan and Athira. The accused is Deepti Das (29), wife of Madhusoodan's elder brother Balakrishnan. Relatives said that she was under treatment for mental illness. After committing the murder, Deepti injured herself with a weapon and has been admitted to Thrissur Medical College Hospital.

The incident happened last night. Madhusoodhan's mother Padmavathi was admitted to a private hospital in Kozhinjampara for fever. Following this, Athira left her son Rithik with Deepti and her five-year-old daughter and then went to the hospital. When they returned at night, the house was found locked. Knocked on the door but did not open. Meanwhile, Deepthi's daughter somehow opened the back door. The couple, who came from the hospital saw Rithik lying motionless inside. Deepti Das was found lying nearby in a pool of blood. The boy was immediately taken to a private hospital in Nattukal, but had lost his life by then.

The Kozhinjampara police registered a case and started investigation. Rithik is pre-K G student at Karuvappara St Francis English Medium School.