The body of a young man found on Sito Road in Abohar, Fazilka district, has been identified as 21-year-old Manoj Kumar, who had escaped from a private de-addiction centre in Rajasthan just a day earlier. His grieving family has launched serious allegations of negligence against the facility, holding them responsible for the tragic loss of their only son.
Family's Anguish and Allegations of Negligence
The deceased's mother, Gurmeet Kaur, and aunt, Sumitra, spoke to the media, painting a picture of a family's desperate attempt to save their child. They revealed that Manoj had dropped out of school, fell into bad company, and became addicted to drugs. His father, Gurjeet Singh, works as a truck driver.
In a bid to rescue him, the family admitted Manoj to a private de-addiction centre in Matili, Sadulshahar, Rajasthan, in November 2024. They were paying the operators a monthly fee of Rs 10,000, placing their trust and hopes in the centre's care.
The Fatal Escape and Discovery
The tragedy unfolded on December 29, when the centre authorities called the family to inform them that Manoj had escaped along with another youth from Abohar, identified as Gurulal Singh, who remains missing. The family immediately began searching, contacting Gurulal's mother in Abohar, who confirmed the boys had not arrived there.
The grim news came via a social media message from Gurulal's mother, who alerted them about an unidentified young man's body found in the area. The family rushed to the mortuary at Abohar hospital, where they identified the body as their son, Manoj.
Demand for Justice and Police Action
The family is devastated and unequivocal in blaming the de-addiction centre. "We entrusted them with our only son," they stated, alleging that the centre's failure to ensure security and proper care directly led to his death. They are demanding strict legal action against the operators.
GRP Assistant Sub-Inspector Ajit Kumar has recorded the family's statements. He confirmed that the post-mortem examination will be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death. Further investigative steps will be based on the findings and the formal statements provided by the deceased's family members.
This incident has cast a harsh spotlight on the operations and accountability of private rehabilitation facilities, raising critical questions about patient safety and regulatory oversight in the region.
