Kundapura: Child abuse case - Mother, her lover sent to judicial custody

A court here on Tuesday rejected the bail application of the mother and her boyfriend who fatally assaulted a three-and-a-half-year-old child in Amasebailu and remanded them to judicial custody.

On September 13, the mother brought the injured and unconscious child to the Udupi Government Hospital for treatment complaining of illness. When inquired about the injuries,  the mother, identified as Purnapriya, did not give details. Following this, the District Health Officer informed the District Child Protection Unit and transferred the injured child to KMC Hospital for further treatment. The child was treated there for a few days and since recovered.

Child protection unit officer Mahesh Devadiga visited the hospital and conducted an inspection and lodged a child abuse complaint with the Amasebailu police station.

After an improvement in the child’s health, the mother was interrogated and child was counseled. The mother reportedly claimed that the child had slipped and fell resulting in the injuries. But, further investigation by the Child Protection Committee revealed the brutal assault on the child. The mother and her paramour had reportedly assaulted the child including its privates, as it insisted on sleeping on the bed.

Meanwhile, the accused, who had surrendered, had secured bail on October 24 from a local court.

Realizing the seriousness of the case, Assistant Public Prosecutor Udaya Kumar appealed for cancellation of the bail. Accordingly, the hearing was held on Tuesday and the Second Additional Civil Court JMFC rejected the bail application of the two and issued an order imposing judicial custody.