A six-year-old boy was allegedly strangled to death by his mother at their residence in Punnassery on Saturday morning, in a deeply disturbing incident that has shocked the local community.
The deceased has been identified as Nanda Harshan, son of Bijeesh, a native of Narikkuni, and Anu Kottayil of Punnassery.
Mother confesses, police rush child to hospital
Police said the accused, Anu Kottayil (38), who was reportedly undergoing treatment for mental illness, called the police control room and confessed to having strangled her son.
“Upon receiving the call, our team immediately rushed to the spot and shifted the child to a nearby hospital in Narikkuni. However, he was declared brought dead,” a police officer said.
The incident occurred inside the family’s residence during the morning hours.
Accused arrested, produced before court
Following the incident, police took Anu into custody and later arrested her. She was produced before a court in Kozhikode on Saturday.
Police officials confirmed that Anu had been under medical treatment for mental health issues and was taking prescribed medication. Further investigation is underway to understand the circumstances that led to the tragic act.
Child was a UKG student
Nanda Harshan was a UKG student at Saraswathi Vidhya Mandir, located in Kakkur. Teachers and neighbours described him as an active and cheerful child, making the incident all the more heartbreaking for those who knew the family.
Anu was employed with Kerala State Financial Enterprises (KSFE), according to police sources.
Community in shock
The incident has triggered widespread grief and disbelief in Punnassery and surrounding areas. Neighbours said the family had not displayed any recent signs of distress that could have foreshadowed such a tragedy.
Police said they are also examining the medical history of the accused and whether adequate mental health support and supervision were in place.
Authorities reiterated the importance of timely mental health intervention and community awareness, especially in cases involving vulnerable individuals and children.