Following inmate’s death, probe begins into functioning of illegal de-addiction centre

The Ludhiana (rural) police have initiated a probe into the functioning of an illegal de-addiction centre at Mini Chhapar village in Ludhiana district where a youth had died under suspicious circumstances on Monday.

The deceased, identified as Pratham Chopra, of Janakpuri, Ludhiana, was admitted there for a de-addiction course recently. Though no signboard has been displayed outside its premises, it’s guarded with high walls and barbed gates.

Owner and organiser of the centre Harwinder Singh of Chaminda was held after being booked under Section 106 of the BNS for allegedly causing death by negligence.

Jodhan SHO Saheb Meet Singh said Rajiv Chopra of Ludhiana had alleged that the owner of the centre, running under the banner of Baba Deep Singh School at Mini Chhapar, had allegedly caused the death of his son Pratham, who had been admitted there on June 22 for a de-addiction course.

“On Monday morning, the authorities at the centre informed us that Pratham’s health deteriorated and we were shocked to learn that our son had breathed his last before being taken to a hospital,” Chopra told the police.

He said the owner of the centre had claimed that it was not a de-addiction centre but a school, being run under the name of Baba Deep Singh School by them.

The SHO said the suspect had been arrested after an FIR was registered on the statement of the youth’s father and further investigation regarding the functioning of the institute would be conducted under the supervision of senior functionaries of the Health and Police departments.

“Though the suspect has claimed that no medical treatment was given to inmates at the centre and only day-to-day care was provided, we have informed the officials concerned for necessary action in the case,” said Saheb Meet.

The police are yet to ascertain the exact sequence of events, leading to the death of the victim.

Residents of the locality are unaware about the nature of activities taking place inside the centre as nobody is allowed to enter it.

Though people have been coming to the centre to entrust the future of their wards to the hands of organisers, residents denied having seen any government official or child carrying a school bag visiting the premises.