Karnataka villagers parade minor boy naked in superstitious rain prayer ritual

Social welfare minister H Anjaneya also happens to be the district-in-charge minister.

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A young boy was paraded naked on the streets of Pandarahalli village in Chitradurga district by the residents in a bid to pray for rains and drive away the drought.

On Tuesday, the last day of the three-day ritual, villagers paraded the boy and made him walk to the stream outside the village.

Social welfare minister H Anjaneya also happens to be the district-in-charge minister.

District authorities and the Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has taken cognisance of the incident which is against the juvenile justice act.

The ritual involved making the boy walk through the village in the nude while holding a Ganesh idol on his head. He was made to walk to a small stream outside the village even as pots full of water were repeatedly poured over his head.

Once at the stream, his feet were covered in mud. He was then made to chase the people into the village. After this, he was given new clothes and the entire village ate meals together.

Chairperson of KSCPRC Kripa Alva said that a representative of the department has been sent and a report is awaited. “After I receive a report, the commission will decide on what action to take,” she said.