Bangalore, July 23 - The Karnataka government will ban the ritual of burying disabled children neck-deep in mud during eclipse for curing polio or other disabilities, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said here Thursday.

'We are going to ban such heinous ritual of burying disabled children neck-deep in mud during eclipse or other occasions under the belief that they would get cured of their handicap,' Yeddyurappa told reporters.

The chief minister's announcement came after a few disabled children were buried alive up to neck early Wednesday at Gulbarga in north Karnataka, about 750 km from here, under a superstitious belief that they would be cured of their ailment by the effect solar eclipse.

'We will issue instructions to all district authorities to prevent such rituals hereafter for any occasion. The people have to be educated against such inhuman practices against their (own) children,' Yeddyurappa said.

The incident happened in Mominpur locality near Saath Gumbaz, a suburb in Gulbarga town, dominated by the minority community.