Vacant official house of Patiala Mayor a haven for drug addicts

The unoccupied official residence for the Patiala Mayor has turned into a haven for drug addicts, who have stolen its articles with impunity over the past three years while the police remained a mute spectator, according to local residents.

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Classified as an ‘A’ category accommodation, the house situated close to Railway Crossing No.21 is spread on over an acre and has remained unoccupied since 2022 when former mayor Sanjeev Sharma Bittu vacated it just before the completion of his term.

A local resident said the property had been left to ruin by the authorities, who even did not bother to remove the wild growth there. “Instead of allotting the building to any other government servant or politician, the authorities kept it vacant and items worth lakhs are now missing,” the resident said.

Water pipes, taps, ceiling fans, wooden doors, and even windows were found stolen from the house when a The Tribune team visited the property.

“A part of its boundary wall is damaged. Some days ago, a group of youngsters had trespassed into the house through the opening and lingered there for hours. They were in an inebriated state and left the property with some bags,” said Manjinder Singh, a local resident.

“Except the authorities concerned, everyone knows that the house is a safe hideout for drug addicts and anti-social elements,” he added.

Another resident said one could easily spot empty injection vials and strips of banned drugs there. “Many a time, they drink alcohol there and quarrel. Anyone who dares to intervene faces harassment,” he said.

An official of the Public Works Department said they had written to senior officials and the local administration, urging to provide a watchman or security personnel to guard the property.

“How can we stop the addicts from entering the house? The police should rein in such elements,” said a senior PWD official.

Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Nanak Singh assured that they would register a case on receiving a complaint from officials concerned in this regard. “Anyone can approach the police over it and we will not spare anyone,” he said.