Bhubaneswar: In this age of science, people are still falling prey to village quacks to get them treated for snake or any poisonous insect bite. Later, these victims are forced to live a cursed life in silence.
The cases of three persons of Mrudangapalli village under Motanga police limits in Dhenkanal district can be taken as instances.
As per the information available, a 25-year-old woman felt her toe being bitten by a certain insect or reptile August 17. Fearing being bitten by snake, she was taken to a traditional healer identified as Suka Barik living in a nearby village. The practitioner treated her with pouring acid on the affected leg. The next morning, her leg turned black and came up with blisters.
Similarly, another 45-year-old woman was stung by a scorpion 15 days ago. She was also taken to the same practitioner who treated her following the same process by applying acid. During the treatment, when the woman said she was feeling giddiness, the practitioner smeared acid on her head too.
Instead of getting cured, blisters had come up on her entire body. She was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital. Now she is cured but is under severe mental stress due to the black spots on her head.
The third victim of this bogus treatment is 30-year-old Niranjan Behera. A snake fell on him from his house roof August 15. He caught hold of the snake in his right hand and threw it away. Fearing the snake might have bitten him, he went to the same practitioner. Following the same treatment process, the quack applied acid on his right hand forcing the patient to undergo unbearable pain. Later his hand and some body parts came up with some burn like spots.
On being questioned, the practitioner denies charges of using acid and says that he applies a sort of a liquid medicine for treatment and that he uses a brush for this.
When contacted, Forensic Medicine Department, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, additional professor, Dr Sudeepta Ransingh said, “The marks on the hand of the patient look like acid burn marks.”
After hearing the cases, snake helpline, secretary, Subhendu Mallik along with his team visited the area. Upon enquiring, he came to know that such a treatment method has been going on since 1900.
Subhendu later deposited a detail report with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He also took the matter up with additional chief secretary, health department, police DG, Dhenkanal SP and CDMO, requesting an investigation by a medical team and arrest of the practitioner.
Meanwhile, Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) Thursday issued a notice to Dhenkanal collector and police superintendent asking them to conduct an investigation into the matter and submit a report within 15 days.
PNN