Child abuse video surfaces, activists demand action against perpetrator

Talking to DT Next, P Manorama, former chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, said that while the heart wrenching video can leave anyone speechless, it is all the more reason for them to speak up on the need to bring the perpetrator to face criminal action. She added, “We don’t know the origin of the video, but we need to track it. If it is new, the person should be booked and if it is an old one, we still have to track the case.”

The child is repeatedly thrown around and hit on the head several times, even as he is found bawling throughout the video. Another district child protection officer in the state, on the condition of anonymity, said that the video clearly didn’t seem to have been shot in TN. “However, overall in the country, despite there being several laws and guidelines being in place for the protection of children, we find such abuses taking place. If there is collective will among police and officers, we can track the perpetrator and book the person. With the technology available, it is not difficult,” added the source.

Manorama said that one doesn’t know for sure, but this could be a case of psychological depression in a parent or a caretaker. “I have seen such a case turning up at the Children’s Hospital, where an 18-year-old mother came with her baby for treatment at the casualty ward. She had pushed the cradle with her child to the wall, after being beaten up by her alcoholic husband. The child died after sustaining head injuries,” she said.

She added that these are cases highlighted, but there could be many others hidden. “The Health Department should also report such children being treated in the casualty ward for such injuries. The police department can also be roped in by them to take action against such parties inflicting violence on children,” she added.

The activists also indicated that they would approach the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights to initiate a nation-wide search to track the person. “While the discussion on our child rights activist WhatsApp group revolved around if such videos should be shared, I think we need to share and expose all of them,” she said.