Bihar 'doc' uses sword for surgery

ALTERNATIVE HEALING? Reason, rationality and the Bihar govt seem to have failed in this case.

ibnlive.com is on mobile now. Read news, watch videos
be a Citizen Journalist. Log on to m.ibnlive.com NOW!

Related Stories

Top Headlines

Top Videos

Most Popular

• Budget to focus on social sectors, growth 

• Education reform will be for all Indians: Sibal 

• Federer wins record-breaking 15th Grand Slam title | Photogallery 

• Bandra-Worli Sea link starts toll tax 

• One-upmanship: Sonia, Pawar in foodgrain politics 

• 5 feared dead in Madhya Pradesh factory explosions 

• Policemen guard Maya's statue wealth across UP 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks | Watch 

• CPI-M leaders to act to curb Kerala infighting 

• Paes-Black lose Wimbledon mixed doubles final 

• Pranab has promises to keep in Budget of hope 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief 

• Bollywood stars sizzle at the IIFA fiesta 

• IBNFocus: TDS process simplified 

• No minister contacted Madras HC judge: CJI 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• CNN-IBN debate: Homosexuality vs Indian morality 

• Watch: Parties react to HC judgement on gays 

• Railways fail to provide basic facilities to passengers 

• Federer wins record-breaking 15th Grand Slam title 

• Umpire dies after being hit on head by ball 

• Education reform will be for all Indians: Sibal 

• Budget preview: Promises to keep 

• Who said what about record champion Federer 

• Chronology of Federer's record 15 Grand Slam titles 

• 5 feared dead in Madhya Pradesh factory explosions 

• One-upmanship: Sonia, Pawar in foodgrain politics 

• Policemen guard Maya's statue wealth across UP 

• Paes-Black lose Wimbledon mixed doubles final 

Photogallery

Find us on Facebook | Join IBNLive community

Stay ahead with G-Talk Buddy | Click now!

Patna (Bihar): A patient suffering from appendicitis chooses to go to a 'surgeon' who is actually a baba.

And believe it or not, this surgeon swords to operate upon people, patches them up with adhesive bandages and then gives them blood as medicine and his temporary operation theatre - a temple in Bihar's Vaishali district.

"I have operated with sword and needle. People believe me and that's what matters," says the 'doctor' who goes by the name of Shankar Baba.

Those who undergo surgery are later made to drink the baba's blood to recover fast. The man claims to possess a cure for diseases other than appendicitis too.

His treatment methods include jumping on the stomach and neck of patients, who could be as young as six years old and he charges his patients anything between Rs 51 and Rs 500 depending on the 'treatment'.

And patients swear their undying faith in the quack. Says a patient Birendra Paswan, "We went to the doctors but nothing happened. And then we came to Shankar baba who said that there is a demon inside your stomach and that is why you have appendicitis. He has now taken the demon out and I am feeling much better since that day."

Clearly reason and rationality seem to have failed in this case as has the Bihar government.

Says the Health Minister of Bihar, Chandrika Rai, "I am surprised that no action has been taken so considering this is illegal."

Call it an irony of blind faith or some quack taking people for ride, but the fact remains that thousands still rest their lives in dangerous hands and unfortunately, this phenomenon is common in places where medical science has so far failed to reach.

(With inputs from Sudhir Kumar in Vaishali)