Inmate dies at de-addiction centre

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, February 23

A 47-year-old inmate died at a private drug de-addiction centre on the Rathdhana road in Sonepat on Saturday after allegedly being tortured.

The police booked five persons and the owner of the centre on the charge of culpable homicide. The police sealed CCTV footage of the centre, in which some persons were seen torturing the inmate.

The deceased was identified as Dharamjeet of Khewra village in Sonepat district. He was reportedly addicted to liquor. Members of Dharamjeet’s family admitted him to Friends New Life Drug De-addiction Centre on February 19. They received a phone call from the centre that Dharamjeet’s condition was deteriorating and he was in hospital.

They reached the hospital, where they found him dead. They informed the police about the death. The police started investigation and recovered CCTV footage of the centre. A case was registered and five persons arrested. They were identified as Nigam Kumar of Narela in Delhi, Manoj of Sonepat, Rajbeer of Chitana village, Rohit of Rabhra village and Bhupender of Gannaur, said SHO Ombeer Singh.

During investigation, it was found that the centre did not have trained staff, he said. Four of the accused had earlier been admitted to the centre as patients, he said. Centre owner Sandeep had not been arrested yet and documents about registration of the centre were yet to be found, he added. The body was handed over to the victims kin.

CCTV footage recovered

• The deceased was identified as Dharamjeet of Khewra village in Sonepat district. He was reportedly addicted to liquor.
• The police have started an investigation and recovered CCTV footage of the centre. Dharamjeet was seen lying on the floor with five persons sitting on him.