18 rescued from de-addiction centre

Ludhiana: The health department has rescued 18 inmates from an illegal de-addiction centre on Jangpur Road in Dakha area. Health department officials said a raid was carried out by the team sent by deputy medical commissioner Dr Amarjeet Kaur, which comprised Sudhar SMO Dr Davinder Singh and psychiatrist from Jagraon govt hospital Dr Vivek Kumar Goyal.They added that a team from Dakha police station had also accompanied them during the raid, which was conducted following a complaint lodged by an inmate’s mother.
Officials aware of the details said the complainant had alleged that those running the centre told her to pay a substantial amount of money to get her son rid of drug addiction. The officials further said that in the complaint, the mother claimed that her son was physically and mentally tortured. She alleged that her son was even beaten up and was not provided proper meals and water. A source said that the inmate also told his mother that other people committed to the de-addiction centre were being subjected to torture as well. The mother had requested the Ludhiana deputy commissioner and SSP to conduct an inquiry into the case.

Civil surgeon Dr Jasbir Singh Aulakh said that acting on the complaint, the health department team raided the centre and rescued 18 inmates from there. He added that the inmates were advised to get admitted to a govt-run de-addiction centre, but they refused. Another health department official said that probe was underway. As per the deputy medical commissioner, the centre was illegal as it didn’t have substance-use disorder treatment and rehabilitation centre affiliation from the health department.
According to officials, the health department had raided the same centre two years ago too and rescued inmates from there.