23 kids branded with hot iron to ward off diseases

Koraput: In a shocking incident, as many as 23 children, including a seven-month-old, were on Saturday branded with hot iron in a village in Nabarangpur district by their respective parents, - reports said on Sunday. The incident took place at Kadara Sahi village under Papadahandi block in the south-western Odisha. Sources said the parents of the children, all tribals, - branded their kids with hot iron on the occasion of Chitalagi Amabasya believing it will help their children to live a disease-free life. It is a common practice among tribal parents every year on the occasion Chitalagi Amabasya, sources added.