Another infant branded with hot iron in Keonjhar

Keonjhar: In another instance of ignorance and superstition, a 25-day-old infant was branded with a hot iron rod at Khabra village under Harichandanpur block in Keonjhar district on Saturday night.
According to reports, the child was branded with a red hot iron rod by his parents to cure stomach ailment. The matter came to the fore this morning when the baby was admitted to a local hospital after his condition deteriorated.
“Branding with hot iron is common in this region. The child is critical as his stomach and chest have been infected following the procedure. People should be educated against such evil practices,” a doctor said.
Earlier on Friday, a seven-month-old boy was reportedly branded with a hot iron to cure illness at Phuljhar village under Bansapala block in the same district.
A many as eight such cases have been reported from the district in the last 45 days.