Keonjhar: In a sickening example of superstition, a 10-year-old girl was branded with hot iron rod to “cure” her stomach ailments. The gruesome incident was reported from Reba village under Bansapal block in Keonjhar district on Saturday.
The incident came to the fore when the victim’s family brought her to a local hospital in a critical condition.
“The girl’s parents branded her with a red hot iron rod five days ago when she complained of stomach ache. She was brought to the hospital after her condition deteriorated. The girl is now stable,” a doctor informed.
As many as five children have been hospitalised after being branded with hot iron in Keonjhar district in the last 10 days, sources said.