Four-year old hacked to death by father's business partner in Kerala

A four-year-old boy was killed by his father’s business partner and neighbour in Kerala’s Wayanad district. The child, named Adidev, was attacked by Kizhakkeparambil Jithesh on Thursday, November 17. Adidev’s father and Jithesh are suspected to have had business disputes, according to reports. The boy succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning at the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital. Adidev was the only child of Parakkal Jayaprakash and Anila, residents of Meppadi village in Wayanad district.

The incident happened when Adidev was on the way to the local anganwadi in Meppadi along with his mother Anila on Thursday morning. The accused, Jithesh, allegedly attacked both Anila and Adidev with a sharp weapon. Anila sustained severe injuries on her shoulder while Adidev was injured in the head and face. The mother and son were initially admitted to DM WIMS (Dr Moopen Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences), a private hospital in Meppadi, for treatment. Later, Adidev was shifted to Kozhikode hospital where he was under treatment for the last two days, before he passed away on Saturday.

According to reports, Jayaprakash and his neighbour Jithesh were business partners and are suspected to have faced a rift over business disputes. Police arrested Jithesh and sent him to police remand on November 17. As part of their investigation, police brought Jithesh to the crime spot to collect the evidence. The police have also reportedly discovered the knife he used for the attack.

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Earlier on November 18, Kerala police arrested a 34 year-old-man for picking up an eight-year-old girl and violently flinging her to the ground. The incident took place outside the Isha-athul Uloom Kendra madrasa in Manjeshwar of Kasargod on Thursday. The man, identified as her neighbour Aboobacker Siddique, has been arrested by the police. The girl is undergoing treatment for her injuries. Based on the girl’s statement, he was booked under sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 9 read with 10 of the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act (aggravated sexual assault).