Illegal de-addiction centre at Jaintipur village sealed, 32 inmates rescued

The district Health Department discovered an illegal drug de-addiction centre operating in the area of Jaintipur village here and rescued 32 inmates from the facility. Health officials said they had received information about an illegal and unregistered drug de-addiction centre being run from a building which had displayed a board on which Army Palace was written.

Health officials said a building of the old banquet hall was converted into a drug de-addiction centre. Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur said a health team along with the police and other officials found 32 inmates admitted under the pretext of drug de-addiction at the centre.

People should avail drug de-addiction services only from registered and legal centres. Fraudsters in garb of providing such facilities are duping innocent and gullible families who want their children to shun drugs. Such families are already devastated as their wards are hooked to drugs. — Dr Kirandeep Kaur, Civil Surgeon

The Civil Surgeon said people should avail drug de-addiction services only from registered and legal centres. She said fraudsters in garb of providing these facilities were duping innocent and gullible families who want their children to shun drugs. She said these families were already devastated due to addiction of their wards to drugs.

Dr Bharti Dhawan, nodal officer, drug de-addiction, said the centre did not have any trained staff, medical officer or other facilities required for providing treatment to inmates. She said 17 inmates were shifted to the Government Medical College while the remaining were handed over to their families.

She said families had revealed that the drug de-addiction centre owner had charged huge amount from them for treatment of their wards. She said inmates were living in unhygienic and inhumane conditions at the centre.

The Civil Surgeon said no owner of the centre was found on the spot. She said the police had been informed in writing to look into the matter and initiate probe in this connection. She said the Health Department had sealed the centre building and initiated further action.