KOCHI/IDUKKI: The 7-year-old boy who suffered critical head injuries after being assaulted by his mother’s partner in Kumaramangalam near Thodupuzha on Thursday is struggling for life. An emergency surgery was performed on him at a private medical college hospital in Kolencherry, Ernakulam but his condition continues to be critical. He is on ventilator support.The accused -- Arun Anand (36) of Thiruvananthapuram -- has been arrested and IPC sections, including 303 (attempt to murder), and the Juvenile Justice Act have been slapped against him, police said.Doctors said the boy had wounds in different phases of healing and he could have been tortured earlier too. Dr Subin George, assistant professor (forensics), said he had suffered a subdural haemorrhage (or hematoma), bleeding that occurs outside the brain.“There is a severe fracture on his skull. The blood that was accumulated inside the brain has been evacuated but there are chances of re-bleeding,” he said.The accused had allegedly hurled the child on the ground smashing his head on an almirah and used a walking stick to beat him up. “He has been staying with the boy’s mother after his father died 10 months ago following cardic arrest. He has a criminal background; he was accused in various cases, including murder,” Thodupuzha deputy SP K P Jose said."As per the mother’s statement, the child was attacked around 2am. The accused was provoked after her younger four-year-old boy urinated on the bed. She tried to prevent the attack but she was also attacked. The younger child suffered injuries on his chin and teeth,” he said.Police said Arun was a close relative of the woman’s husband. “They were not legally married. They reached Kumaramangalam only a month ago,” the officer said.Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed immediate treatment to the child. Health minister K K Shylaja said the government would take over his medical expenses.

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