‘I’m not well sir; my father says he will poison me’: Kerala fourth-grader's note reveals shocking abuse at home

Charummoodu (Alappuzha): A disturbing case of suspected child abuse has emerged from Kerala’s Alappuzha district after a fourth-grade girl handed her teachers a handwritten note detailing the alleged cruelty she faced at home. The emotional letter, found in her school notebook, has shocked authorities and led to a police investigation.

“I don’t have a mother. I have a stepmother. My father is also cruel to me. Even my stepmother… I’m not well, sir. My father says he will poison me to death. My mother slapped me for asking for a plate,” the girl wrote — her words offering a glimpse into a life of fear, neglect and violence.

The child, who attends a private school in Athikkattukulangara, reportedly caught the attention of her teachers on Wednesday morning when they noticed visible injuries on her face and body. When asked about them, she shared the emotional letter titled “My Experience”, which recounted episodes of physical abuse and psychological trauma.

School authorities attempted to contact her parents but received no response. Her grandparents were then called in, and the matter was promptly reported to the Nooranad police. Based on statements from teachers and the girl’s written account, officers registered a case and advised immediate medical care for the child.

The accused in the case have been identified as Ansar, the girl’s father, and his second wife, Shefina. The child’s biological mother had passed away just a week after giving birth to her. Her father remarried soon after, and according to the child’s letter, her stepmother had beaten her severely as recently as a month ago.