Boy dies after being branded with hot iron

A four-year-old boy, who had been branded with hot iron allegedly by a senior family member in a bid to cure him of some minor ailment, died in Malkangiri district today.
The boy, who belonged to Sukraguda village, was admitted to the district headquarters hospital here last night in a serious condition, the doctor who was treating the boy said.
The boy had probably been branded with hot iron about five days ago and the family members brought him to the hospital when his condition turned critical, he said.
As the child was suffering from stomach ache and fever, his grand-father applied the crude method in an attempt to cure him, doctors said.

The child could not be saved as he was brought to the hospital very late and the patient was already in a highly critical condition, they said.
No police complaint has so far been lodged regarding the incident, police said.