25 Children Branded With Hot Iron In Dhenkanal

Dhenkanal: A shocking incident of superstition has come to the fore in
Dhenkanal district where as many as 25 children were branded with a
hot iron as a means of haling ailments.

The incident was reported from Thoria Chhanda village under
Mathkargola panchayat in Bhuban block of the district on Monday after
more than 25 children were branded with hot iron and copper rods by
their family members to cure their stomach ailments.

“I was completely unaware that the villagers in the locality believe
that the kids will not suffer from any stomach related ailments if
they will be branded with hot iron a day after Makar Sankranti
festival”, Mathkargola Sarpanch Suneli Nayak informed.

The Sarpanch said that he will visit the spot to spread awareness
among the local people to refrain from such superstitious practice.