Police Raid Uncovers Illegal Rehabilitation Operation in Ludhiana District
In a significant enforcement action, Hathur police in Ludhiana have successfully rescued twenty-two individuals who were undergoing purported "de-addiction treatment" at an illegally operated rehabilitation center. The authorities have registered a formal case against the facility's in-charge, identified as Simranpreet Singh, a resident of Godwal village in Raikot tehsil.
Complaint and Joint Operation Details
The case was initiated based on a complaint filed by Dr. Davinder Singh Sandhu, the Senior Medical Officer (SMO) of the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Sudhar. Dr. Sandhu reported that on April 5, a joint medical and police team was constituted following orders from the Deputy Medical Commissioner of Ludhiana. This coordinated team was led by DSP Harjinder Singh and included officials from both the health department and Punjab Police.
According to the official complaint, the joint team conducted a targeted raid at a house situated on Manuke Road in Jhorda village, which falls under Raikot tehsil within Ludhiana district. During their thorough inspection, they discovered an unauthorized de-addiction and rehabilitation center operating from the premises without any legal sanction.
Discovery of Unauthorized Facility and Violations
Dr. Sandhu stated that twenty-two persons were found residing at the center and allegedly undergoing de-addiction treatment. The accused, Simranpreet Singh, who was managing the center, was present at the location during the raid. The complainant emphasized that Simranpreet Singh failed to produce any government-certified documents authorizing him to operate such a rehabilitation facility.
Critical deficiencies were noted during the inspection:
- No psychiatrists or psychologists were present at the facility, which is a mandatory requirement for legitimate de-addiction centers.
- Medicines were recovered from the premises, with health department sources confirming that one of these medications had expired.
Dr. Sandhu clarified that all recovered medicines were handed over to the police team by the joint inspection team. He noted that, based on their labels, none of the medicines currently fall under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. However, he added that a complete technical opinion regarding these medicines can only be provided after test reports are received and legal opinion is sought from the district attorney.
Legal Charges and Ongoing Investigation
Police officials have confirmed that Simranpreet Singh has been charged with offences under Section 318(4), which pertains to cheating-related offences, and Section 127(2), concerning wrongful confinement, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These charges were applied for allegedly keeping twenty-two persons in captivity without government permission under the pretext of providing de-addiction treatment.
The investigation into this case is currently ongoing, with authorities working to uncover further details about the operation and ensure all legal procedures are followed.
