Nuapada: A sorcerer branded two baby girls of Duajhar village near Khariar in this district with hot iron to cure them of fever, a report said.
The sorcerer was assisted by the parents of twin babies in the ‘treatment’.
According to sources, Sushila Rout, wife of Bedabar Rout, of the village delivered twin baby girls a few days back. However, without proper care in the village, the babies became weak. All of a sudden, they were affected by fever and their bellies began to swell.
Instead of admitting them to a hospital, Bedabar and his wife took the babies to a traditional healer who branded the infants with hot iron rods.
The condition of the babies worsened after the branding. Now, the family members are terrified to admit the babies to a hospital in fear of police action, leaving the infants to battle for life, locals said.
A daughter of Debadar had earlier died due to branding, but the man is yet to reform, locals added.
When contacted, Dr Ritesh Panda of Khariar community health centre said he had no information about the incident. He assured that he would send medical authorities to the village and rescue the twins and take necessary action against Debadar.
While Debadar and his wife hid the fact in the fear of arrest, locals demanded the intervention of the administration to rescue the babies and provide them proper treatment before they succumb to the burn injuries.
PNN