Tantrik assaults minor to cure fever in Odisha's Jajpur

JAJPUR: A minor was injured and admitted to hospital after being physically tortured by a tantrik in Bankipal village under Binjharpur police limits of the district.

According to reports, Bablu (13), son of Prafulla Kumar Das, complained of high fever and when his condition did not improve despite treatment and medicines, his mother sought the help of a tantrik. “My son had high fever a couple of days ago. When the fever did not subside despite treatment and medicines I thought it wise to consult a tantrik as he had visited the village graveyard to witness a cremation a few days ago”, said the mother.

“The tantrik came to our house and said the child was influenced by an evil spirit. In course of his activities, the tantrik performed some rituals”, she said, adding the child was asked to bite a winnowing basket and run on the village road.  “As directed by the tantrik, my son ran on the road with the winnowing basket. The tantrik was ran after him and beat him with a stick mercilessly,” she added. The child got injured following the assault. He was rushed to the local hospital for treatment and later shifted to the district headquarters hospital after his condition deteriorated, family sources said. His condition is stated to stable.