Bolangir: In a shocking incident, the family of a dead minor boy tried to ‘revive’ him with the help of a sorcerer after he died of snakebite at the Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital here Wednesday.
Deceased Madhu Payasingh (16) was the son of Haladhar Payasingh of Digasira village in the district. The boy was bitten by a poisonous snake while sleeping at home late Tuesday night.
According to reports, the matter came out after a video of the act went viral on social media. People questioned as to how a sorcerer could enter the morgue and perform rituals to revive the boy.
The boy’s family rushed him to Titlagarh hospital where doctors referred the case to Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital after his condition deteriorated.
However, doctors at the Bolangir hospital pronounced the boy dead on arrival. Later, the body was sent to the morgue for post-mortem.
Surprisingly, the boy’s family refused to take the words of the doctor as a sorcerer from Kalahandi assured them that he can ‘revive’ the boy. The sorcerer advised them to keep the body on the verandah of the morgue and not in the freezer till he arrives.
The sorcerer reached the morgue Wednesday and kept a dish on the back of the body and recited some mantras. However, he soon pronounced the boy dead, and asked the family to give up hopes of reviving him.
The incident comes at a time when the district administrations and the police are sensitizing the public not to resort to superstitions and take medical help in case of diseases. But villagers continue to reel under superstition and take the help of sorcerers and faith healers.
PNN
