Illegal drug de-addiction centre busted, 25 youths held captive in room rescued

The Dakha police, along with a team of health officials, raided an illegal drug de-addiction centre in Dakha and rescued 25 youths who were kept in a locked room in unhygienic conditions. The rescued youths were shifted to the Civil Hospital, Jagraon, for further treatment.

The owners accused of running the illegal centre were identified as Hardeep Singh, alias Deepa, a resident of Chak Kalan, Dakha, and Jagminder Singh of Patti Jalal, Dakha. They are yet to be arrested by the police.

Varinder Singh Khosa, DSP, Dakha, said a letter was received from the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ludhiana (Rural), Ankur Gupta, that an unauthorised drug de-addiction centre was running from an abandoned building of a school in Dakha. The SSP instructed that a raid should be conducted and necessary action should be taken as per law.

The DSP revealed that taking further action, a medical team was formed in coordination with the Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana. The medical team included Dr Harkamal Kaur, medical officer (psychiatrist), Dr Vishal Kumar, medical officer, and Davinder Singh, pharmacy officer. The police team along with the health team raided the unauthorised rehab centre.

“After the officials reached the centre, as many as 25 patients were found in a locked room, who were kept illegally captive. After being released from the room, they were taken to the Civil Hospital in 108 ambulance and admitted to the Jagraon hospital for treatment. The unauthorised centre was also sealed by the medical team.

Khosa said on the basis of a report of the medical team, constituted by the Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, a case was registered against the owners of the illegal centre. The arrest of the suspects was pending and a police team was conducting raids to nab them.

Meanwhile, the DSP appealed to the public that if any person had any information about such illegal activities, he or she could inform the police so that action can be taken against the guilty. The name and address of the informer would be kept confidential. If any person wants to quit drugs, he should be admitted to a government or government-recognised rehab centre.