Toddlers 'beaten to death in exorcism' in Burma

The relatives of the children reportedly said the 'exorcist' put them in a trance by feeding them 'blessed' water

A man has been arrested and charged with murder following the three children's deaths, police say (iStock)

Three infants have been beaten to death in Burma during an exorcism, it has been reported.

A three-year-old boy, a two-year-old girl and an eight month old baby were killed by a man purporting to be a healer after telling their families that they were possessed by evil spirits, Bangkok Post reports. Police records reportedly state that the children’s bodies show evidence they were punched, kicked and stamped on prior to their deaths which took place in a village in Burma, also known as Myanmar.

Local lieutenant-major Kyaw Naing Soe told AFP that the man put the villagers in a trance and then killed the children in front of them as they watched. He said: “On the night of the 18th, the three-year-old boy was beaten to death and the culprit threw him in the Twante canal. On his return, he continued to beat the three young girls and two of them were killed.”

The uncle of the dead boy told media that relatives had been put in a trance by the man who fed them “blessed water”: “Because of what he did everyone was out of their mind.” He added that the relatives are ashamed to show their faces in public.

The father of one girl in the “exorcism” took her to a hospital for treatment after she was beaten in the ceremony, which alerted authorities to what was happening.

The burial of at least one of the children has taken place in an unmarked grave.

Police have reportedly charged the man accused of conducting the ceremony with murder, grievous bodily harm and hiding a dead body.

He is being held in prison while he awaits trial.