Bengal teen stays in ponds for days, claims ‘jinn’ makes his body burn

Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS

For 16-year-old Iqbal Sheikh, a pond in Bengal’s Murshidabad, has become more than a place to swim. Locals say he has spent days, sometimes nearly a week at a stretch, in the water, returning to the shore only occasionally.

According to local residents, Iqbal has been leaving home and spending both days and nights in different ponds around Beldanga. He claims that he experiences an intense burning sensation across his body whenever he comes out of the water. Once he gets back into the pond, he says, the discomfort subsides.

Iqbal believes that an unseen force is responsible for what he experiences. He has attributed it to the presence of a jinn, fairy or other supernatural entity.

However, his unusual routine appears to be taking a physical toll.

After spending prolonged periods in the water, the skin on his hands, feet and other parts of his body has reportedly turned pale. He has also developed cold and cough symptoms, according to locals.

Iqbal says he sought treatment at a local block primary health centre but did not receive the help he needed. His family is also facing financial difficulties and, according to the account, cannot afford treatment at a private hospital.

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As concern around the teenager has grown, so has public attention. Every day, schoolchildren and local residents reportedly gather around the ponds to watch him. Some visitors have even begun bringing him food, including chuda (flattened rice), biscuits and other snacks.

But helping him leave the water has proved difficult. Locals say repeated attempts to persuade Iqbal to return home have not worked.

His story has now become a talking point across the village, drawing both curiosity and concern. While some residents remain focused on his claims about supernatural forces, the more immediate worry is his health and the physical consequences of spending several consecutive days in water.

There are also unanswered questions about what may be causing the burning sensation Iqbal describes and whether he has received a proper medical evaluation.

For now, the 16-year-old continues to spend long stretches in the ponds, while residents watch from the banks and worry about how long he can continue living this way.

(With inputs from Sabyasachi Banerjee)

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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA