Tirur: A couple from Tirur in the Malappuram district of Kerala are being investigated by police for reported 'suspicious deaths' of their six children. Over a period of 9 years, from 2011 to 2020, couple Rafeeq and Sabina lost six children - the most recent death being that of their 93-day-old baby on Tuesday morning.
Neighbours alerted the authorities, as suspicions rose after the seemingly hasty burial of the sixth child. Out of the six deaths (3 boys and 3 girls), five of the children were younger than 12 months while one girl died when she was four and a half years old - regional media outlet Mathrubhumi reported.
Relatives of the couple, however, told media that all the children, including the baby buried on Tuesday, died of medical complications. The relatives reportedly said that the child had epilepsy, and that the family had consulted expert doctors for medical intervention.
On Tuesday morning, relatives reportedly said, the child was crying constantly and was showing signs of distress. They said that the baby died on reaching the hospital.
Authorities have now decided to exhume the body buried on Tuesday for an autopsy.
