Neglected Austrian children find shelter

Thiruvananthapuram: Three children of Austrian nationality, apparently shown gross neglect by their mother, have been taken to shelter homes near Kottayam in central Kerala.

The incident comes only weeks after two local children were found abandoned in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital.

The Austrian children, David (15), Sultan (13) and Jasmine (10) were staying in a house in Thellakam near Kottayam in obviously dismal conditions and were also looking famished. They were studying in a local school after having come here from Austria.

Cry for help

According to reports, their plight came to public notice after the eldest sent an e-mail to the Austrian embassy. The children have an Austrian mother and their father is a Keralite. The couple was known to be having marital discord.

The local authorities soon swung into action, producing the children before the chief judicial magistrate and later taking the boys to a juvenile home at Thiruvanchoor.

The girl was taken to the St Joseph's Children's Home in Kummannoor.