A two-year-old child from Ganderbal in North eastern part of Kashmir valley born with a Down’s syndrome (mentally and physically challenged) has been admitted in the GB Pant hospital here with at least 13 one-cm cigarette burn scars. The cruel act was allegedly inflicted on the child by a female ‘faith healer’ in front of his parents, doctors treating the child quoted the family members.

Dr Abdul Rashid, registrar of the hospital, said the child was first taken to a faith healer by his parents.

“Though suffering from Down’s syndrome from birth, he had cough and fever along with convulsions when brought to hospital on Tuesday.  When we examined him we found multiple cigarette burn mark on his body. He was writhing in pain,” Rashid sai