Karnataka: 18-month-old boy put on hot charcoal bed by parents during Muharram observance

In a shocking incident, a parent in Karnataka wrapped his 18-month-old baby in banana leaves and laid him over a “slightly hot” charcoal bed at a dargah on Sunday. 

In the video of the incident, which surfaced on incident shortly after, a man can be seen placing the toddler wrapped in banana leaves on a charcoal bed in Allapur in Dharwad district during Muharram observance.

The video showed the baby crying and struggling to escape the heat as smoke kept emanating from the charcoal.

“The parents of the baby had prayed for a boy two years ago. On their wish being fulfilled, they had come to fulfil their promise. The baby was placed on a bed of charcoal that was doused off. As it was slightly hot, banana leaves were used. It was for just a couple of seconds,” police told PTI. 

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Speaking to the news agency, the police said no case has been registered in connection with the bizarre ritual. 

However, the Child Welfare Committee has been informed and they are counselling the parents.

The incident has come to light only a few days after the Karnataka cabinet cleared its much-awaited legislation to end “inhuman evil practices”, popularly known as the anti-superstition bill.

The proposed ‘Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2017’ - to be tabled in the next assembly session - seeks to prohibit coercing any person or persons to perform firewalk.

(With inputs from agencies)

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