Aunt burns 5-year-old niece with hot water

Sri Lankan police have arrested a woman in Alawathugoda area for burning her 5-year-old niece by pouring hot water on her neck and brutally assaulting her.

Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that the burnt child was undergoing treatment at a hospital and the aunt, who looked after the child, has been arrested, ‘Dinamina’ reported.

The girl told the police that her aunt had burnt her about a week ago with hot water and initial investigations discovered that the girl’s father had abandoned the child and the aunt had taken over to look after her, although the grandfather had earlier taken her for adoption.

Police said the child’s mother, who was abroad for employment, had been married thrice and that the girl was the child of her third husband.

Later the relatives brought her mother from overseas, saying that she was mentally ill and therefore the girl was under the custody of the aunt, who had denied of burning saying it was an accident.

Further investigations are underway by the police.

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