Parents arrested for chaining 3-year-old

The parents have been charged with attempt to murder and sent to judicial custody by a court in Kerala.

Parents of a three-year-old, who was chained in his own home, were charged with attempt to murder under juvenile justice laws and were sent to judicial custody by a court in Kerala.

HT Image

The incident came to light when a relative of Benny came for a visit and found the child, Araomal, chained near the family pet.

The neighbours were alerted and the police arrived along with the local church vicar Father Markose and freed the boy.

Benny's father 65-year-old Antony was arrested.

Police said that Benny, a hotel employee, and Manju, a home nurse, have been living together for the past nine months. And the boy was chained from eight in the morning till six in the evening.

"The boy was being harassed and we had told them several times that if they have any problem with the child they should see to it that he is put up elsewhere and not be punished like this," said Reji, a neighbour.

Father Markose said he had talked to Benny and told him not to treat the child in this manner and if they are unable to take care of the child, he should be entrusted to a convent.

The boy is now at a state-run orphanage.