THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Public outrage over the tragic murder of a toddler spilled onto the streets on Sunday when local residents attacked the prime accused, Ashkar, during an official evidence collection drive at the crime scene.
The police brought Ashkar to the specific house in Panavoor, where the young child was allegedly subjected to prolonged physical abuse and torture. As news of his arrival quickly spread through the area, scores of angry local residents who had gathered at the location attacked him. The police personnel on duty struggled hard to control the aggressive crowd and complete the necessary evidence collection process before safely escorting him away from the volatile area.
During the process, Ashkar was observed explaining the entire incident to the police without showing any visible signs of remorse or regret. Deputy Superintendent of Police K Baijukumar stated that the police team recovered crucial evidence from the house, including certain objects that were allegedly used in the physical assault. The police are also actively investigating whether anyone else played a role in the abuse and whether the crime involved active participation or deliberate concealment by other individuals.
A major focus of the ongoing probe is the specific role played by the child’s mother, Akhila. According to the police, she has stated during interrogation that she had witnessed Ashkar physically assaulting the child on several previous occasions. The police are now closely examining how much she actually knew about the continuous abuse and whether she deliberately failed to intervene despite being fully aware of it. She is expected to be taken into police custody soon for detailed questioning and further evidence collection. However, the probe team intentionally refrained from taking Akhila to the spot for evidence gathering on Sunday, given the intense public outrage. Notably, both Akhila’s mother, Reena, and the family of her ex-husband, Akhil, had previously sought legal custody of the child. Even after Reena had approached the police with a complaint regarding suspected assault on the child, Akhila’s statement was accepted on trust by the authorities, and the child’s custody was entrusted back to her. Akhil’s family also noted that Akhila maintained absolutely no contact with them after Akhil’s untimely death and flatly refused to give them the child even after they formally informed her of their willingness to raise him.
Serious allegations have also emerged against Akhila from within her own family. Her mother told reporters that Ashkar had previously made highly disturbing remarks regarding the little child. Expressing complete disbelief and grief over the boy’s tragic death, she maintained that the child had been perfectly safe while living with her family.
“He once openly said that the child would be treated like an infested dog. I strongly suspect Ashkar is solely behind this crime. The child had absolutely no issues when he was staying with me. After he was taken away from our house, we were never allowed to meet him again. If Akhila had seen him being abused even a single time, why didn’t she just bring him back to me? He was such a sweet and obedient child,” Reena stated to the media. Meanwhile, serious allegations surfacing from Ashkar’s previous marriage have added another complex dimension to the ongoing investigation. The family members of his former wife have alleged that he has a long, violent history of domestic abuse.
ലഘു വിവരണം
നെടുമങ്ങാട് ഒന്നര വയസുകാരൻ മർദനമേറ്റുമരിച്ച കേസിൽ പനവൂരിലെ വീട്ടിൽ തെളിവെടുപ്പിനായി എത്തിച്ച മുഖ്യപ്രതി അഷ്കറിനെ നാട്ടുകാർ കൂട്ടംചേർന്ന് മർദിച്ചു. കനത്ത ജനരോഷത്തെത്തുടർന്ന് പോലീസ് ഏറെ പാടുപെട്ടാണ് പ്രതിയെ മാറ്റിയത്. പ്രതി മുൻപും കുട്ടിയെ ഉപദ്രവിക്കുന്നത് കണ്ടിട്ടുണ്ടെന്ന് കുട്ടിയുടെ അമ്മ അഖില മൊഴി നൽകിയിട്ടുള്ളതിനാൽ കേസിൽ ഇവരുടെ പങ്കിനെക്കുറിച്ചും പോലീസ് അന്വേഷിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. അഷ്കറിന് മുൻപ് കടുത്ത ഗാർഹിക പീഡന ചരിത്രമുണ്ടെന്ന് അയാളുടെ ആദ്യ ഭാര്യയുടെ കുടുംബവും ആരോപിച്ചു.
(With inputs from TNIE)
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