Conflicting opinions are cropping up on the parents of Shafeeq, the five-year-old boy who is battling for life after being tortured by his father and step mother.
Shafeeq’s biological mother Remya had accused Shareef of forcefully taking away the child from her after they separated in 2009. Now, a close relative of Shareef alleges that Remya had abandoned the child in the house of another relative.
Remya had taken Shafeeq to the house of the relative at Chappathu near Upputhara and left him there, alleges the relative. She never came back following which a missing complaint was lodged with the Upputhara police station. The Upputhara police intervened and spotted Remya who arrived at the police station along with his relative and refused to take the child back, the relative said on condition of anonymity.
It was only after this that the child was brought up by Shareef’s uncle at Kumily a few months back, the relative said. However, Upputhara subinspector Sidharthan said that the police station did not have any record to substantiate the claim of the relative. He said that perusal of records up to 2009 has not shown any such incidents. However, he said that there are incidents when the police do not keep record of certain petty issues. Another relative said that it was difficult to believe that Shareef would be so cruel to his own child.