An Indian teenager is worshipped as a god because he has a 7ins ‘tail’.

Arshid Ali Khan, 13, has become a divine symbol in the state of Punjab.

Locals have hailed him a reincarnation of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman – and refer to him as Balaji.

However, Arshid has to use a wheelchair and he is considering having the ‘tail’ removed.

Arshid lives with his grandfather, Iqbal Qureshi, and two uncles, after his father died when he was four and his mother remarried.

Arshid’s home has been converted into a temple where his devotees come to visit him to receive his blessings and touch his ‘tail’.

However, Arshid often struggles to balance his time with his faithful devotees and attending school and playing with his friends.

Despite his supposed powers, Arshid has to use a wheelchair and suffers from an undiagnosed disorder.

This month he is due to see a doctor who has said he can successfully remove the appendage – but his family are sceptical and say they would rather he kept his tail than undertake a risky operation.

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