Villagers brand infant to cure fever

Villagers pressed hot iron rods on a 16-month-old child’s body in a Chhattisgarh village on Saturday to exorcise the spirit they thought was responsible for his fever and vomiting. The small boy was given the hot iron rod “treatment” about 100 times with the consent of his parents in Surjula village of Jashpur district. He had burn marks all over his body.

The villagers told 16-month-old Deepak’s family that the baby was possessed by a ghost and the only cure was to press hot iron rods on his body.

Litle Deepak has now been admitted to a hospital in the district headquarters of Jashpur Nagar. Doctors there found over 100 burn marks all over his body, said PK Singh, block medical officer posted in Jashpur. “It is inhuman. We have enough health workers in the rural areas but the illiterate villagers still believe in superstitions,” Singh said.

The police said action would be taken against the child’s family and those involved in the brutal act.

“We are investigating the matter. We will take legal action against the family and those found involved in subjecting the baby to such treatment,” said district SP Akbar Ram Korram.