Police drug rehab move draws praise from locals, social organisations

Residents and office bearers of social organisations in the region have welcomed the initiative by District Police, led by SSP Gagan Ajit Singh, aimed at facilitating the rehabilitation of youths affected by drug abuse. The move involves shifting approximately a dozen youths, who had been booked for consuming drugs and narcotics, to government-recognised drug de-addiction centres, following a standard operating procedure.

The office bearers of social organisations expressed their appreciation for the initiative and have come forward to share the responsibility of monitoring the progress of de-addiction and further rehabilitation of the youths. Activists led by Assistant Governor Elect of the Rotary Club, Surinder Pal Sofat, highlighted that the initiative had provided relief to the families of those involved. These youths, booked under section 67 of the NDPS Act, were shifted to a government-recognised drug de-addiction centre in Sangrur during the ongoing Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign.

Sofat said, “Having learned about the initiative by SSP Malerkotla, Gagan Ajit Singh, to facilitate rehabilitation, we coordinated with District Coordinator DSP (Special) Ranjit Singh Bains to organise workshops and seminars on the subject, under the guidance of concerned police personnel.”

Advocate Arvind Singh Maavi, President of the Malerkotla District Bar Association, recalled the Punjab and Haryana Court’s directive to the Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Haryana to establish and implement a standard operating procedure (SOP) for detoxifying drug addicts and curbing drug trafficking. He emphasised the importance of Section 64A of the NDPS Act, which grants immunity to addicts who voluntarily undergo treatment at government-recognised de-addiction centres. Maavi stressed the need to raise awareness about this provision, which benefits addicts, their families and society as a whole.

SSP Gagan Ajit Singh acknowledged that the SHOs at various police stations had ensured that addicted youths in their respective areas were shifted to the de-addiction centre in Sangrur by following the standard operating procedure through the court of law. He explained, “As these youths had volunteered to undergo treatment, we followed the procedure for their detoxification.”

The SSP also commended the efforts of social organisations, adding that a campaign has been launched to sensitise the public about encouraging their children to voluntarily seek de-addiction treatment and gain immunity from punishment under the NDPS Act for drug consumption and possession of small quantities. Investigations revealed that the youths sent to the de-addiction centre are aged between 30 and 32 years and are unemployed rural residents.