IDUKKI: In a suspected case of moral policing, a 17-year-old Class XI student was beaten up allegedly by a man, for speaking with a girl at Erattayar near Kattappana.
The injured student, Rahul, son of O K Shaji, hailing from Ottaplackal house, Ettithopp, was admitted to a private hospital in Kattappana on Tuesday.
The Kattappana police registered a case against Shaji Souryankuzhiyil, a former president of Erattayar grama panchayat, on the basis the statement of the victim.
Kattappana CI, V S Anilkumar said that the accused will be taken to custody based on the complaint.
According to the police, the incident occurred at Ayyamalapadi near Erattayar around 4.15 pm on Monday. Rahul, a student at Deepthi College, Kattappana, met the girl, who is his former classmate, while going to his friend’s house at Thulasippara. While they were engaged in conversation, Shaji came to the spot and asked the girl to go home. When she left the place, Shaji reportedly beat up the boy on his head and face.
He was first admitted to the taluk government hospital, Nedumkandam and later shifted to a private hospital in Kattappana.
Childline members recorded the statement of the victim and will file a formal complaint with Kattappana police station on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Shaji denounced the charges and said he intervened when he found the boy and girl in an awkward situation.
“I personally know the girl, who lives near my house. I only asked her to go home when she was found in an uncomfortable situation, since there were some issues of ant-social elements, including Ganja sales in the place,” he said.