{
  "id": 19788896,
  "title": "13-year-old beaten brutally by stepfather in Keralam’s Kollam; Minister orders probe",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/13-year-old-beaten-brutally-by-stepfather-in-keralams-kollam-minister",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T10:03:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/13-year-old-beaten-brutally-by-stepfather-in-keralams-kollam-minister-orders-probe/article71697397.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Kollam, Keralam, a 13-year-old boy suffered severe physical abuse at the hands of his stepfather, according to disturbing footage that surfaced on Thursday. The incident took place in Chadayamangalam, Kollam, when the stepfather, reportedly intoxicated, entered the boy's room, stripped him, and beat him savagely with a stick. The footage, recorded by the boy's mother, sparked outrage and prompted the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to initiate a suo motu investigation. Bindu Krishna, the Keralam Women and Child Development Minister, has vowed zero tolerance for violence against children and has ordered the Child Welfare Committee to register a case and take stringent action. The District Police Chief, District Women and Child Development Officer, and District Child Protection Officer have been directed to promptly intervene, assess the family's situation, and provide the child with necessary psychological support. The stepfather, who allegedly harbors resentment towards the boy from the boy's mother's previous marriage, has been accused of subjecting him to regular physical abuse. The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also launched an inquiry into the matter, seeking explanations from key authorities. The Minister has appealed for public vigilance, urging citizens to report any instances of child abuse or violence to the department, promising serious consequences for the perpetrators.",
  "summary": "District Child Protection Officer has been directed to visit the child’s family at the earliest to assess their situation, initiate necessary follow-up measures, and ensure the boy receives immediate psychological support, including counselling",
  "key_points": [
    "13-year-old boy brutally beaten by stepfather in Chadayamangalam, Kollam",
    "Child Welfare Committee initiates suo motu investigation, orders case registration",
    "Minister vows zero tolerance, directs police and child protection officers to intervene"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The swift government intervention and multi-agency investigation signal a state-level commitment to addressing domestic violence and ensuring immediate psychological support for victims of child abuse.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "No differences with Keralam CM over power procurement, says Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/no-differences-with-keralam-cm-over-power-procurement-says",
        "published": "2026-11-13T08:14:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}