Mother, live-in partner brand toddler with frying pan

HYDERABAD: IN a shocking incident, a four-year-old girl suffered grievous injuries after her mother allegedly branded her with a frying pan. Though the incident took place a few days ago, it came to light only on Sunday.

The child has been shifted to the Shishu Vihar at Ameerpet in Hyderabad and is undergoing treatment now.
According to SR Nagar Police officials, the child’s mother, Lalitha is in a live-in relationship with one Prakash and both of them work as cooks at a private hospital in SR Nagar police limits.

“After branding the child with a frying pan, the couple tried to administer first-aid to her at home, but did not take her to a doctor,” said the officials of SR Nagar police station.

Later, they took the toddler to the Childline seeking medical help. Posing as ‘good Samaritans’, they claimed that they found the child with burn injuries on the road.

However, the Childline officials inquired about the child and the truth came to light.
According to the police,  they suspect that Lalitha felt that her daughter was a burden to her new relationship and wanted to get rid of her. The police also claimed that Lalitha had tried to hurt her daughter in the past.

“The child is now out of danger and has been shifted to the Shishu Vihar at Ameerpet. She will stay there until her conditions become stable. Then, she will be produced before the Child Welfare Committee,” said an official.

The police have registered cases against the couple under Section 324 of the IPC (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection Act.