18 drug addicts escape from govt-run rehabilitation centre in Faridkot

Eighteen drug addicts undergoing rehabilitation escaped from a de-addiction centre at government-run Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital here last night after allegedly overpowering security personnel.

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According to police officials, the escape was not a spontaneous act but a “coordinated effort” by them.

While seven of them were brought back to the facility, others are still on the run.

Eight of the escapees have cases registered against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Officials have assured to launch an internal inquiry to determine how the lapse took place so that accountability could be fixed. Additional security measures are also being considered to prevent similar incidents in future.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (D) Sandeep Wadera said efforts were on to locate those on the run. “Security has been tightened and a probe is under way to examine any lapse,” he said.

This de-addiction centre has about 72 addicts undergoing treatment. Most of them are aged between 20 and 35. The number includes three women.

According to sources, 40 of them were admitted by the police after they were nabbed for drugs peddling or drug consumtion.

Incident took place after high-level inspection

The incident came a day after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s media adviser Baltej Singh Pannu visited the facility, along with the Faridkot SSP and Deputy Commissioner.

The timing of the escape, just hours after the high-profile visit, has raised serious concerns about the internal monitoring and preparedness at the centre.

The de-addiction centre at the medical college is a part of the Punjab Government’s anti-drug campaign, “Yudh Nashian Virudh”, which aims to rehabilitate drug addicts, who voluntarily seek help to quit substance abuse.

The police, under this campaign, also facilitate the admission of addicts into rehabilitation facilities across the state.