Kottayam: 'Chocolate was not laced with drugs,' cops probe reason behind child falling unconscious

Kottayam: Police have dismissed allegations of drugging after a 4-year-old child reportedly fell unconscious after eating chocolate in Kottayam. Authorities have stated that the presence of benzodiazepine in the child’s body was a result of medication administered at the hospital, not from any illicit substance. According to the officials, the medication could not have caused unconsciousness, ruling out such possibilities.

The incident occurred on the 17th of last month when the child returned home from school and fell unconscious. Initially, the child was treated at the Medical College’s ICU, but due to a deterioration in health, the child was transferred to a private hospital in Kochi for further treatment. Subsequent specialised tests revealed traces of a chemical substance in the child’s body. The child's parents filed a complaint with the District Police Chief and the Collector, requesting an investigation.

However, the police clarified that the child had undergone an MRI scan at the private hospital, during which the commonly prescribed medication, benzodiazepine, was administered.  The parents had incidentally reported this as the narcotic element in the child's body, prompting the police to issue a clarification.

 Meanwhile, the police are investigating how the child ended up unconscious after returning from school. Other children who consumed the same chocolate at school did not experience any health issues, raising suspicions among the police about whether the incident might be related to food poisoning, although no confirmation has been made regarding that theory.