Boy, 9, Branded With Hot Iron Rod In Odisha, Case Filed Against Uncle

A 9-year-old boy was allegedly branded with a hot iron rod by his paternal uncle and aunt in Odisha's Cuttack city. The maternal grandparents of the boy have approached the police and registered a complaint. 

The boy had been staying at his uncle's house after his mother died in 2018 and his father married another woman. Earlier, he was staying with his maternal grandparents, but his uncle and aunt brought him to Cuttack so that he could continue his studies.

The boy's grandparents, Madan Mohan Rout and Baijayanti Rout, have registered a complaint against the uncle and aunt at Markatnagar police station, demanding strong action for subjecting the boy to inhuman torture.

The child also narrated the barbaric incident before the police. The burn injury marks were visible on his body.

"We request the police to immediately arrest his uncle and aunt... and allow us to take the child with us," the grandparents told reporters after lodging a complaint at the police station.

The boy's aunt, Srutibala Sahu, rejected the allegations and said the marks on his hands were caused after he accidentally touched a hot pan in the kitchen.

Police have registered a case Under Sections 323,324, 506 and 34 of the IPC and Section 24 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

The boy has been sent for a medical examination. He would be produced before the Child Welfare Committee soon, said a police officer.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)