Sambalpur: Seven more needles were removed from 19-year-old sorcery victim’s skull at VIMSAR, Burla, on Saturday.
The surgery was conducted around 11 am by a team of 10 doctors a day after 70 needles extracted from her skull.
Speaking to the media, VIMSAR director Bhabagrahi Rath said that three more needles were initially found and another four were detected using C-Arm technique. “The patient is out of danger. Fortunately, the needles had not pierced the skull but there is infection and she has been given antibiotics. The patient will be kept under observation for at least a week,” he informed.
The victim, Reshma Behera of Ichgaon within Sindhikela police limits in Balangir, was admitted to Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital after she complained of severe headache. Later a CT scan revealed presence of multiple needles in her skull and eight needles were removed at the hospital. She was referred to VIMSAR late on Thursday evening when there was no improvement in her condition.
The first surgery at VIMSAR was conducted at around 2 am on Friday and went on for one-and-a-half hours.
Meanwhile, Balangir police have arrested the quack Santosh alias Tejraj Rana, who had pierced the needles as part of sorcery practice. Reshma’s family had approached him as she used to fall sick frequently after the death of her mother around four years back.
