The Ernakulam Rural police have almost wrapped up investigation into the alleged rape and murder of a four-year-old even as they returned the custody of the two accused registered in connection with two separate cases, on Monday.

A seemingly open-and-shut case registered by the Chengamanad police against the child’s mother, who was accused of throwing her daughter into the Chalakudy river, took a dramatic turn when the Puthencruz police arrested a close relative of the child’s father on charge of sexually abusing the child for over a year, a day after the woman’s arrest.

Though the cases were registered separately, their police custody coincided. The two accused were interrogated individually and together. The mother reportedly confessed to having thrown her child to drown as an act of vengeance borne out of perceived attempts by her husband to isolate her and separate her from her children.

The man was arrested after the post-mortem report suggested sexual abuse of the child. He was taken into custody after the police interrogated a slew of suspects before zeroing in on him.

Published – May 27, 2025 01:14 am IST