Kochi: The police on Friday arrested two nuns and a maid in charge of the day-care centre for the death of a toddler who drowned in Periyar after walking out from the centre at Eloor on Wednesday. The cops slapped negligence and arrested the nuns- Sister Remya, in-charge of the day-care centre attached to the Stella Mary’s Convent, Kuttikkattukara, Sister Mariya Thankam, her assistant, and Kunjamma Pappachan, the maid.
Two-and-a-half-year-old Aadhav Rajesh drowned in the Periyar river after he was left unattended. Aadav, son of Rajesh-Reshmi couple from Kayattinkara at Muppathadam, was found dead at the jetty, just 150 metres away from the nursery. The police made the arrest after the parents and residents of Eloor staged a demonstration before the convent. More than 200 residents turned up for the protest and they blocked a road leading to the convent.
The accused were booked for the offence under Section 304A read with 34 IPC (causing death by negligence). Interestingly the police on Thursday had refused to register a case and claimed that the death was due to drowning. The police released the three on bail from the police station itself. The cops are waiting for the report of the Regional Chemical Examiner's Laboratory, Kakkanad. The protest march that started from Pathalam junction was led by Rupesh Kayantikkara, joint convenor of the action council. The protesters demanded a probe into the incident and alleged that the day-care centre was working without following the rules.
