Attack on mom, child condemned

It was that move, relatives believe, that led him to stabbing the two and later ingesting a poisonous substance. The man, 37, who is suspected of molesting the girl, remains warded in a serious condition at hospital under police guard. Mother and child are warded at different sections of the hospital and both are kept under armed police guard. The child was stabbed in the chest while the mother in her chest and hands. Both remain warded in serious but stable condition.

“On Tuesday, she dropped the summons at the Barrackpore Police Station for them to give him to appear in court next week Friday.

They (suspect and close relatives) knew about it and one even threatened her to drop it or else.

It seems like the one who threatened her is in hiding too,” said a close friend of the woman.

At 12.30 am on Wednesday, neighbours were awakened by screams and they later saw the woman and her daughter bleeding at the side of the road. Neighbours also found two frightened children, one a five-year-old boy and the other a ten-year-old girl inside a house unharmed. Hours later, residents found the suspect hiding in some bushes.

Sources said residents beat the suspect before dragging him out and leaving him at the side of the road for the police to pick up. When police arrived, he was frothing at the mouth. The Children’s Authority yesterday condemned the brutal attack adding that on Wednesday night, a team of investigators visited the child and mother.

Children’s Authority communications manager Cheryl Moses- Williams noted that given the traumatic experience, counselling and interventions will be provided to the family. “They are currently in a critical but stable condition at hospital. The Authority has also ensured the safety of the other children in the family. The Authority is also in high praise of the child’s mother, who immediately took action and reported the (sexual) abuse (on the child) once it was brought to her attention.”