Keonjhar: A 15-day-old newborn baby was branded with hot iron rod to cure stomach pain at Kanjhipani village under Bansapala block in Keonjhar district.
The matter came to light after the baby, who sustained critical burn injuries, was admitted to the district headquarters hospital.
According to reports, the baby’s grandmother branded the infant with a hot iron rod to cure the newborn’s stomach pain.
At least four to five burn marks were found on the baby’s body.
Though the Health Department has been undertaking awareness drive regularly, there is no let-up in branding cases.
In 50 per cent of such cases, the victims are newborns.
Several traditional healers and black magicians were arrested in connection with these cases.
A majority of branding cases has been reported from tribal-dominated hamlets in Bansapala, Telkoi and Harichandanpur blocks.
