Illegal de-addiction centre sealed at village, 17 rescued

The Amargarh subdivision rescued 17 persons, including 12 addicts, from an illegal drug de-addiction centre being run under the guise of a fitness centre at Chaunda village near here.

As organisers of the illegal centre could not produce required sanctions and documents during a surprise checking conducted by senior functionaries of the police, health and civil administration on Saturday afternoon, the raiding team sealed the premises. Though no case was registered by the police in the matter so far.

The prohibitory action was taken in pursuance of guidelines of the higher authorities in connection with the ongoing ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, 10 days after Health Minister Balbir Singh warned private drug de-addiction centres against violation of guidelines on running a detoxification centre.

Malerkotla SSP Gagan Ajit Singh said joint teams of the police, health and civil administration had raided an illegal de-addiction centre being run under the guise of a fitness centre at Chaunda village under the supervision of Amargarh SDM Surinder Kaur and DSP Davinder Singh Sandhu. Dr Ashok Kumar and drug inspector Navpreet Singh led the Health Department team.

Preliminary probe revealed that owner of the centre Rashid Mohammad of Chaunda village had rented the premises jointly to Harwinder Singh Patiala, Sanpreet Singh Rolu Majra, Ekampreet Singh Ghaloti and Parvesh Kumar of Ghar Shankar, who were running the same.

As the organisers had failed to satisfy the raiding team regarding the presence of seventeen persons, the authorities got all of the occupants freed and handed them over to their parents.

The SSP said further action would be taken on the basis of reports submitted by a team of Health Department officials.

Following the constitution of a Cabinet committee on drug addiction, Health Minister Balbir Singh had announced that the accountability of private drug de-addiction centres would be fixed in the campaign launched to create a drug-free society.

It was made necessary for such centres to present information on the number of drug dependents housed to stop the sale of narcotic pills. Designated personnel were advised to check these centres from time to time and ensure that qualified doctors and psychiatrists are deployed at all detoxification centres.