Probe begins into child branding incident in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Nabarangpur, May 25:

Blinded by superstition, parents of a six-month-old child in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district have branded their son with hot iron rods to cure his illness on the advice of a village quack.

Following the incident, the district administration has ordered a probe into the alleged incident.

Collector Rashmita Panda has directed the Sub Collector Birendra Karkara, District Child Welfare Committee and Child Protection Unit to launch an inquiry into the incident and submit a report to her.

Sridhar Jani and Rupadei Jani of Biriguda village in Makiya panchayat under Papadahandi block had taken their six-month-old son to a quack in Singaguda to treat their child with complaints of abdominal pain and an abnormal growth on its shoulder.

The quack advised the couple to brand the child with hot plates to get rid of the ailments.

The village anganwadi and ASHA workers took the child to Papadahandi PHC after the condition of the toddler, instead of improving, deteriorated further. Later, the minor was shifted to Nabarangpur hospital as he fell critically ill.

As the incident came to the notice of the district administration, the Collector directed the officials to ensure proper treatment to the child and removal of the tumour.

Sub Collector Birendra Karkara visited the hospital and enquired about the health of the child on Sunday.

According to sources, the officials of District Child Welfare Committee and District Child Protection Cell have recorded the statements of Sridhar Jani and his wife Rupadei Jani.

It is learnt that the officials have submitted a report to the District Collector on this incident after investigating the matter. However, the contents of the report are not yet known.

The child’s father has filed a complaint with the Kodinga police on Sunday after which a case has been registered.

“We have registered a case based on the complaint lodged by Sridhar Jani (child’s father),” Kodinga IIC Narendra Majhi said.