Cases of hot iron branding is not new to the state, superstitions and practices guided by blind beliefs once again reared their ugly head by claiming an infant’s life after the ailing child was branded with hot iron, such botched cures keep coming from tribal belts of Odisha.
As per reports, one Laladhar Bacha and his wife Janani of Kusamkhunta village in Boden block were blessed with a baby boy in December. The baby was reportedly suffering with digestive issues for which the child kept on crying continuously. Lack of education and awareness drove this couple to the village quack who administered the hot iron treatment on the toddler.
A condition locally termed as ‘Kalasira’. As villagers traditionally used to brand infants with hot iron laced with turmeric and other herbs to cure the condition, some of them suggested the same to Laladhar and Janani. The couple complied and branded the child with hot iron several times.
On Thursday morning, unable to bear the pain, the baby fell unconscious following which the couple rushed to the district headquarters hospital, where the child was declared dead.
On being informed, Boden police reached the hospital and started investigation today. The body has been seized for postmortem. The exact cause of death will be established after the autopsy report arrives, said sources.
