Health officials rescue 8 people from illegal deaddiction centre

District police to initiate legal action against the owner and staffers of the centre that has been sealed

The officials of district health department on Wednesday rescued eight people who were allegedly detained in an illegal de-addiction centre at Rajewal village in Jandiala block.

Civil surgeon Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai said they got information that an illegal de-addiction centre ‘Ek Parivartan’ was being run at Rajewala village. “Soon after getting the information, a team comprising assistant civil surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur, senior medical officer (SMO) of community health centre Manawala, Dr Nirmal Singh, medical officer (MO) Dr Isha Dhawan, and deputy mass media officer (DMMO) Amardeep Singh was formed. The team conducted a surprise raid at the centre,” he said.

Ghai said the team found that eight patients were detained in a room there. “The team immediately released the patients from the room. However, the team didn’t find the owner of the centre and other staff at the spot,” he added.

“During the investigation, we came to know that the centre was illegal and no certificate was taken from the health department to run it. The centre was being run by one Sukhwinder Singh Luthra of Jandiala,” the civil surgeon said.

He said, “The centre has been sealed and we have written to the Amritsar police to take legal action against Sukhwinder Singh and other staff members ( their identity is yet to be ascertained).”

After being rescued, the inmates were admitted to the government-run Swami Vivekanand De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre in Amritsar.

One of the rescued inmate said he had been detained in the centre for last three months. However, others said they were in the centre for the last one to two months.

Civil surgeon said, “The patients will be treated free of cost at the government-run centre.” He also appealed to the people to admit drug addict patients to the government-run de-addiction centres only.

One of the members of the raiding team said, “The owner of the centre used to charge ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 per month from the patients.” He said the patients were forced to live in inhuman condition and were subjected to physical torture as well.

This was the second raid of the health officials at illegal de-addiction centre with in a month. On October 20, 22 people were rescued from an illegal centre at Partap Nagar in Amritsar.

The centre had taken no certificate from the health department for its functioning. It was being run by Sukhwinder Singh Luthra of Jandiala.

DR HARDEEP SINGH GHAI, civil surgeon