Infant hospitalized after being branded in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Mathili, Feb 13:

A four-month-old baby branded with hot iron by a local healer to cure stomach ache had to be hospitalized after his condition deteriorated in Odisha’s Malkangiri district.

Manoj, son of Pandu Durua, a native of Tulasi village under Mathili block, was suffering from fever and his abdomen was also bloated. The parents took him to the quack who branded the infant with a hot iron object.

After branding, the condition of the baby deteriorated and was admitted to Mathili hospital, yesterday.

Post treatment, the condition of the baby is now stated to be stable, according to hospital sources.

Meanwhile, reports of branding with hot iron things by traditional healers are regularly coming to light in the tribal-dominated districts of the state due to witchcraft and other superstitious practices being followed by the villagers.

Notably, last month, a nine-day-old baby girl died in Nabarangpur district headquarters hospital. She was admitted there in a critical condition after being allegedly branded by local healer with hot glass bangles.