Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 3 (NationPress) On Tuesday, police apprehended three caregivers employed at a shelter operated by the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare (KSCCW) for allegedly injuring a two-and-a-half-year-old girl. The trio, identified as Ajitha, Maheswari, and Sindhu, have been charged under the POCSO Act.

Arun Gopi, the general secretary of KSCCW, stated that he promptly notified the local police and hospital authorities after learning of the incident, where the girl received medical care.

Reports indicate that the toddler, who had a habit of urinating on the bed, was pinched by Ajitha in a fit of anger, resulting in injuries to the child’s private parts.

Actions were also taken against the other two caregivers who failed to report the incident to their superiors upon discovering it.

The alarming situation came to light when a new caregiver was bathing the child, who started crying. Other caregivers, noticing her distress, entered to investigate and observed visible injuries on her body, leading to an escalation of the matter to higher authorities.

“Upon learning of the situation, we informed the relevant regulatory bodies, and the girl underwent a medical examination,” Gopi remarked, adding that the child is now recovering well.

Notably, the KSCCW provides care for children, including this toddler and her one-year-old sister, both of whom became residents after their father’s tragic suicide, following the earlier death of their mother.

The facility employs 130 staff members, 103 of whom are casual caregivers. Gopi confirmed that this is the first complaint of this nature and that all three caregivers will be dismissed from their positions immediately.