Faith healer burns 2-year-old with cigarette buts to 'cure' him

Srinagar, Feb 1: In a shocking incident, a two-year-old kid has been burnt with cigarette butts by a faith healer in Kangan area of Ganderbal district.

The child of Murgund Kangan was brought to GB Pant Hospital in a serious condition with burn marks on his belly. “He is admitted in the hospital for the treatment of Pneumonia in the right lung and Gingivostomatitis. When we examined the kid we were shocked to see his tummy burnt badly with cigarette buts,” Dr Abdul Rashid, a Pediatrician told Greater Kashmir.

His mother took him to a female faith healer in Bonbagh Kangan as he is suffering from a childhood defect Down’s syndrome. However, she is reluctant to name the faith healer saying she has full faith in her.

The condition of the boy, now been admitted to a Children hospital in Srinagar, is stable, said doctors.

 In the remote town of Kangan from where the family hails, most people visit faith healers to seek cure to health problems, said a police officer from Kangan.

 The faith healer, against whom no police complaint has yet been lodged, probably subjected the child to the torture several times in the past as well as GB Pant hospital doctors said he has several healed burn marks on his belly. To treat the little boy, the faith healer singed him with cigarette butts. This happened about some days ago.

“When the family first brought the boy here, he would wail continuously; his condition was horrible. Now he’s far better,” said a doctor.

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