Youth dies of 'drug overdose' in Kapurthala village, family alleges foul play

A 24-year-old youth Akashdeep Singh died likely due to drug overdose in Rampur Jagir colony near Kapurthala. The incident occurred late last night that sparked the renewed outrage in the region over the unchecked drug menace.

According to preliminary reports, Akashdeep allegedly administered a substance via injection after which his condition deteriorated rapidly, resulting in his death on the spot. However, his family claims he had recently returned home from a rehabilitation centre and had quit drugs. His father, Bagga Singh suspects a foul play, alleging that someone may have forcibly injected his son with a narcotic substance. This marks the second drug-related death in the same locality within a month, raising serious concerns about the scale and spread of drug trafficking in the area.

Gurmeet Singh, in-charge of the Dalla Sahib police post, confirmed that Akashdeep’s body was recovered near Toti village and has been sent for the post-mortem examination. "Only after receiving the medical report can we confirm whether the cause of the death was due to a drug overdose or other factors," he stated.

Local residents, including village head Gurpreet Singh, the deceased's mother Reena Devi, and a resident Kulwinder Singh, voiced strong concerns about the rampant drug trade operating openly in the region. They accused local drug peddlers of fearlessly pushing the youth toward addiction, while the authorities remain inactive.

Villagers are demanding immediate and strict action from the government and police to dismantle drug networks operating in the area. "We are losing our children. If the administration doesn't act now, more families will face the same fate," said Reena Devi, in tears.