Man Burns 8-Year-Old Child With Hot Spatula, Iron Box; Arrested

In a case of child abuse, a man in India was taken into custody for torturing an 8-year-old boy with a hot spatula and an iron box.

The incident took place in the southern city of Kochi. The child was abused by 19-year-old Prince Arun, who stayed with the former's family, the New Indian Express reported.

Authorities said Arun had placed the spatula and iron box on the victim's leg, which led to burns. The child was rushed to the Tripunithura Taluk Hospital to receive treatment for his injuries.

Police said the torture began earlier this month after the child returned from a shop late, the New Indian Express reported. However, the incident came to light only after a neighbor saw the burn injuries on the boy's body and informed local residents. The locals then filed a complaint with the nearest police station.

Police told the New Indian Express that Arun, who had been taken into custody after a report was filed, admitted to torturing the child. He allegedly said he was causing the boy pain as he had lied to him about some stolen money.

The victim's father has been bedridden for the last few years after suffering a stroke and his mother was at home taking care of her husband. The accused started living in their house after falling in love with the victim's sister.

“When I arrived home, chettan (brother) called me to his room in the guise of affection and closed the door. He placed the hot spatula on my leg. Seeing this, my mother intervened and he stopped. But when she left, he placed the spatula again. Then, he placed an iron box on my leg as the spatula had lost heat," the victim told the police, the New Indian Express reported.

The victim said the accused used to slap him and had attempted to stab him with a screwdriver. He also inflicted injuries on his body using a pin and tried to suffocate me with his hands. On one occasion, the accused also attempted to strangle him.

The accused has been charged under the Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act and sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 326 (causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the Indian Penal Code. The accused was sent to judicial custody by the Maradu Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.