Keonjhar: Hardly have three days passed after a branding incident, yet another tribal kid was allegedly branded and his condition has been critical in Champua area. The baby was admitted to the district headquarters hospital in Keonjhar Sunday.
According to reports, the one-and-a-half-year old son of Rasika Alda and Ichha Alda, a couple of Majhigan area in neighbouring Jharkhand, had a stomach problem and it was difficult to breathe.
The couple had taken him to a traditional healer, who branded him with an iron rod. But his condition grew critical and he was later admitted to the nearby Champua hospital. When his condition deteriorated, the baby was shifted to the district headquarters hospital.
Branding cases are frequently taking place in various tribal pockets in Keonjhar and Jharkhand. Three days ago, a one-year-old girl child was reportedly branded at Matkambeda of Barbil town and admitted to the district headquarters hospital.
In the last few weeks, two tribal kids had died days after branding in Harichandanpur block. In the last one month, 10 cases of branding were reported from various parts of the district.
Recently, a 25-day old Juanga baby of Malati Juanga from Kharba village died at the district headquarters hospital. A few days back, son of Kulamani Juanga, a resident of Kuladhankuni under this block, was branded and died August 1. A seven-year old kid had recently been branded at Phuljhar area under Bansapal block. PNN
