Harbhanga buri’ miracle treatment exposed by rationalists’ association
Kolkata: Are you suffering from a broken arm, leg, or any other bone in your body? Finding no relief from the pain? Fear not. Located approximately 50 km from Kolkata, in the village of Charabattala (Ghoshpur, Machlandpur, North 24 Parganas District), resides ‘Lakshmi Mandal’ popularly known as ‘Harbhanga Buri’, renowned for her purported miraculous ability to heal all types of broken bones solely through divine intervention.
Every Tuesday and Saturday morning, well before sunrise, patients from distant places converge at the makeshift healing camp of ‘Harbhanga Buri’ in the Ghoshpur area of Machlandpur. This influx of visitors would overwhelm any primary health center. The elderly woman purportedly heals broken bones by blowing air from her mouth onto the afflicted area…
Patients are required to bring mustard oil and specific roots tied with black thread for the purported healing rituals performed by ‘Harbhanga Buri’. She claims to cure broken bones and other physical ailments through these rituals, which she says are guided by a special mantra from the ‘Swapnadesh’. Remarkably, she asserts having healedL patients who were unsuccessful in their surgical treatments at renowned hospitals.
Lakshmi Mandal alias ‘Harbanga Buri’ claims that she has been serving people because of this special mantra found in her ‘Swapnadesh’ for about three years. Patients not only from this district but also from different states now come to her seeking relief from physical ailments.
The number of patients visiting ‘Harbanga Buri’ continues to grow daily. In the surrounding area, a burgeoning business has emerged, capitalizing on the increasing influx of visitors. Numerous individuals can be seen selling a variety of items, ranging from mustard oil to black thread.
Upon hearing this news, an investigative team comprising Vijay Krishna, Sheikh Siraj Ali, and Sourastra Das, led by Santosh Sharma, Vice-President of the ‘Bharatiya Bigyan O Yuktibadi Samiti’ ( Science and Rationalists’ association of India) arrived at Lakshmi Mandal’s alias Harbhanga Buri’s divine treatment camp, with their identities concealed. They spoke with patients and local residents who were present.
Santosh Sharma, seeking to verify the claims, received treatment for his right leg from Lakshmi Mandal and also paid her for the so-called divine treatment. However, Harbhanga Buri’ maintains that she does not demand any money from patients for her services.
The rationalists’ investigation revealed that Lakshmi Mandal is exploiting helpless and poor patients under the guise of divine treatment. Disregarding legal and medical regulations, the ” Harbhanga Buri’s” treatments continue around the clock.
This fraudulent activity must be stopped. Consequently, Santosh Sharma, Vijay Krishna, and Siraj filed a written complaint against Lakshmi Mandal, also known as ‘Harbhanga Buri,’ at the Baduria police station on behalf of the Science and Rationalists’ association of India .Arguments, on inquiry, have learned that Lakshmi Mandals are treating countless people every Saturday and Tuesday without any ‘drug license’, which is completely illegal under the law.
According to the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Offensive Advertisements) Act, 1954, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, it is a punishable offense to treat any disease by divine means. These laws state that anyone without a ‘drug license’—like the ‘Harbhanga Buri —who claims to heal broken bones with oils, jaharfunk, tantra mantras, roots, or other divine cures for any disease, will be subject to both imprisonment and fines.
It is surprising that even today, many people are being deceived by individuals like the ‘Bone Broken Old Woman’ who promote ‘jharfunk’, ‘tantra mantra’, ‘Tel Pora’, roots, magic, and miraculous cures. Rationalists continue to take to the streets to expose these fraudulent practitioners.
Even today, government hospitals in this state fail to deliver adequate medical services. Caught between financial constraints and superstitions, people often resort to divine healing, jeopardizing their own lives.
Meanwhile, the police and administration turn a blind eye to blatant fraudulent practices, allowing the exploitation to thrive.Consequently, the fraudulent business continues to prosper. In this context, the responsibility of rationalists becomes all the more crucial.
Reported by Vijay Krishna and Santosh Sharma