4-month-old girl branded with iron rod to cure cold and cough
A four-month-old girl was branded with an iron rod on the stomach to “cure” her of a severe cough and cold at Bhilwara district in Rajasthan, police said on Tuesday. The girl named Nandini was rushed to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital after her health further deteriorated. A police officer said the girl was apparently branded a couple of days ago, but the matter came to light on Monday when the family informed the doctors of it. The girl was branded on her stomach by a ‘tantrik’ and was undergoing treatment, a doctor said. “The girl is suffering from pneumonia and congenital heart disease. Cases of superstitious practices like branding to cure from cold and cough are common in Bhilwara. She is undergoing treatment in the ICU ward,” in-charge pediatrics at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Dr OP Agal, said. A case has been registered under various IPC sections against unidentified accused on the complaint lodged by the Child Welfare Committee and further investigation is on. -PTC News
