Kin of youth who died at de-addiction centre hold protest

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, December 2

Relatives of a youth, who had allegedly committed suicide in a private de-addiction centre at Udekaran village here on Thursday, lodged a protest in front of the Muktsar (Sadar) police station, demanding the arrest of the three persons booked in this regard. The protesters, who blocked the road for nearly an hour, alleged that the police were showing unwillingness to arrest the accused.

Sukhchain Singh, brother of victim Gurwinder Singh, a resident of Bathinda Road here, said they had urged cops several times in the last two-three days, but when nothing happened, they had to lodge a protest.

Notably, the police have booked Manpreet Singh, owner of Ek Prayas De-addiction Centre, Model Town, Udekaran, counsellor Deepak Kumar and Mandeep Singh under Sections 306 and 34 of the IPC.

In the FIR, Sukhchain Singh stated that he had gone to meet his brother at the de-addiction centre some days ago, where Gurwinder told him that the centre staff was torturing him. “When Sukhchain asked the de-addiction centre staff to release his brother, they demanded Rs 55,000 charges. Later, Gurwinder committed suicide,” stated the FIR.

On the other hand, the police claimed that the efforts were afoot to arrest the accused.