Mahakalapara: In a bizarre incident, some disciples of Rampal, a religious leader from Haryana, serving jail term for his “misconduct”, Friday attempted to bring back a dead child by placing the body near Rampal’s photograph.
According to a report, Mahesagar Pradhan, a 17-year-old son of Sridhar Pradhan of Balipal suddenly took ill Thursday night. The family rushed him to Kendrapara district headquarters hospital. However, the doctors declared him “brought dead”. The family returned home with the body.
But as the Pradhans were ardent followers of the notorious godman, they placed the body below Rampal’s portrait and started some ritual to make others believe that the dead would be alive. A few more followers also joined in the ongoing rituals expecting the miracle to happen by the ‘grace’ of Rampal.
However, such a development did not go down well with other villagers. They ended up beating up Rampal’s followers and drove them out of the village. The villagers later performed the last rites of the child.
While the godman is languishing in jail for his wrongdoing, he still has 15 followers in the district who continue to worship him and believe Rampal can do wonders from the prison cell.
PNN