Kerala toddler dies of jaundice, parents opposed modern medicine, says police

A one-year-old boy from Kerala’s Malappuram died of jaundice, with police registering a case of unnatural death. There is suspicion that the child did not receive treatment, as his parents are reportedly opposed to modern medicine.

The deceased child, Esen Erhan, was the son of Hira Hareera and Nawaz, residents of Kottakkal. He passed away on June 27. Police and health officials suspect the baby did not receive adequate medical care. The baby’s mother, an acupuncture practitioner, had earlier shared posts on social media opposing modern medicine, which are now under discussion.

During a visit by health department officials, the parents informed them that the baby died shortly after breastfeeding. Their inquiry also revealed that the child had not received any vaccinations since birth.

While the family went ahead with the child’s burial, police later decided to exhume the body for a postmortem examination. Further action will be based on the findings of the postmortem report.

In another incident from April, a 35-year-old woman, Asma, died during a home birth in Malappuram. Her husband, Sirajuddin, who runs a YouTube channel called ‘Madavoor Qafila’, was arrested and charged with homicide not amounting to murder and for attempting to destroy evidence. Police say he tried to secretly bury Asma’s body in Perumbavoor, Ernakulam.

Several videos from his channel reportedly spread misinformation against modern medical care during childbirth.

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