In tribal-dominated areas of Madhya Pradesh, the act of poking hot rods is turning fatal.
In a shocker from Madhya Pradesh, a three-month-old girl suffering from pneumonia was poked 51 times on the stomach with a hot iron rod as part of "treatment" by a quack. The child, who had breathing difficulties, died 15 days later at a hospital.
The incident took place in a tribal-dominated area in Shahdol district.
Officials said her body, which was buried, will be taken out for postmortem, which will take place on Saturday.
"When the women and child development officials reached the hospital, they found that the shocking case of blind faith took place 15 days ago and the child was not treated for pneumonia which deteriorated her condition", Shahdol Collector Vandana Vaidh said.
"A local Anganwadi worker counselled her mother and requested her not to poke the child with a hot rod," Ms Vaidh added.
In many tribal-dominated areas of Madhya Pradesh, the practice of poking with a hot iron rod to "treat" pneumonia is common.
Dr Vikrant Bhuria, doctor and President of Youth Congress, said, "Being poked with bars can lead to death, it's a way to subside the pain, but the problem is that the infection can supersede which can result in death."
"Such practices are still prevalent and I request the Chief Medical Officer of the area to register a complaint and take strict action," BJP spokesperson Dr Hitesh Vajpayee said.