Rights panel notice to Mohali SSP over fracas at de-addiction centre

The Punjab State and Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of inmates fleeing from the Sector 66 de-addiction centre and sought a report from Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

The Chandigarh Tribune had highlighted the incident in its September 24 report “2 inmates flee after ruckus at Mohali de-addiction centre”.

A Mohali police constable and four private security guards had been thrashed in the ruckus. They were later admitted to the Phase-6 Civil Hospital for treatment.

The Commission comprising of Chairperson Justice Sant Parkash and Member Justice Gurbir Singh of Punjab State & Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission, taking suo-motu cognizance of this matter and called for report from the Senior Superintendent of Police to submit his report a week before the next date of hearing on November 10.

A copy of the order, along with the copy of the news-item has been sent to the SSP through e-mail and by post for compliance. A copy of the order has also been marked to the ADGP, Human Rights, Punjab, Chandigarh for information.

Notably, the police have booked eight inmates for the ruckus. Six of them have been arrested for assaulting and obstructing a public servant and use of criminal force.

Meanwhile, family members of the arrested inmates staged a protest outside the Phase 11 police station, alleging physical torture and intimidation by cops.

Frequent incidents of unruly behaviour and fleeing of inmates from the Sector 66 Nasha Mukti Dawai Kendra have dented the Aam Aadmi Party government’s “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh” campaign.

Overcrowding, lack of congenial atmosphere, inadequate infrastructure and lax security arrangements plague the facility after it was upgraded from a 50 to 100-bed centre on May 1.