Four-month-old baby beaten to death by drunk father; mother arrested for cover-up

KOZHIKODE: The death of a four-month-old baby girl in Kuttikkattoor, Peruvayal, Kozhikode, was a murder, police said. The child's father allegedly beat her to death while under the influence of alcohol. Both the child's parents have been arrested in connection with the case. The accused have been identified as Shijin and his wife, Anjana, natives of Vayalkkara in Kuttikkattoor.

The four-month-old baby girl, Aayuktha, died on October 1 last year. The baby reportedly developed discomfort late at night, and mucus began coming from her nose. She was first taken to a private hospital and later admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. However, her life could not be saved.

A postmortem examination conducted after suspicions arose over the death revealed that it was a murder. The examination found that the baby had sustained serious injuries, including to her head, and that these injuries had led to her death.

Police subsequently questioned Anjana in detail. It was during this questioning that Anjana admitted that Shijin had beaten the baby to death, police said. Anjana was arrested for allegedly concealing the murder.

Shijin, a habitual drinker, had returned home drunk on the day of the incident. Police said he brutally assaulted the baby while intoxicated because he could not tolerate her crying loudly at night.
Relatives had also told police that Shijin used to beat the baby on previous occasions.

After gathering detailed evidence against both accused in the case, police formally recorded their arrests today. They will be produced before a magistrate shortly.