A 25-year-old youth from Ajnala died under mysterious circumstances at a private de-addiction centre on Wednesday. The family of the deceased has alleged foul play and demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.
Incident Details
The victim, identified as Gurpreet Singh, a resident of village Khojewala, was admitted to the centre about a week ago for treatment of substance abuse. On Wednesday morning, his family received a call from the centre informing them that Gurpreet had died. When they reached the facility, they found his body with injury marks, raising suspicions.
Family's Allegations
The family members alleged that Gurpreet was subjected to physical abuse by the staff. They claimed that the centre's management tried to pressure them into accepting the body without a post-mortem. However, the family refused and lodged a complaint with the police.
"He was perfectly fine when we visited him two days ago. The injury marks on his body suggest that he was beaten. We demand a fair investigation and strict action against those responsible," said the victim's father.
Police Action
On the complaint of the family, the Ajnala police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. The body has been sent for post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause of death.
"We have taken the matter seriously. An investigation is underway, and we are examining the CCTV footage from the centre. Action will be taken based on the post-mortem report," said a police official.
Centre's Response
The management of the de-addiction centre denied the allegations of foul play. They claimed that Gurpreet died due to a sudden cardiac arrest. "We provided him with proper treatment. He was recovering well. His death was unexpected. We are cooperating with the police," said the centre's director.
However, the family remains unconvinced and has threatened to launch a protest if justice is not served.
Background
De-addiction centres in the region have often been under scrutiny for alleged malpractices. This incident has once again raised questions about the regulation of such facilities. Local activists have called for stricter monitoring and accountability.
Further updates are awaited as the investigation progresses.
