Dhuri, July 25: A private drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centre operating illegally in Dhuri was sealed on Wednesday after a joint raid by health and police authorities. Officials said the facility had been functioning despite its licence being suspended in June 2023.
Dr Ishan, psychiatrist and medical officer at the Sangrur civil hospital, confirmed the action. “The centre was found to be operating without a valid licence. The crackdown followed a complaint from human rights organisations alleging that patients were being physically abused,” he said.
In response to the complaint, the district administration constituted a probe committee comprising the tehsildar, station house officer, drug inspector, district social security officer and a psychiatrist. The raid, carried out Wednesday afternoon, found 19 patients housed at the facility.
“Thirteen of them were sent home with their families, while the remaining were shifted to the government-run de-addiction centre in Ghabdan,” Dr Ishan said.
Naresh Kumar, the district drug inspector, said that while no narcotic or psychotropic substances were found on-site, arrangements were made to provide essential medicines to the patients released.
SHO Jasvir Singh of Dhuri police station confirmed that no First Information Report (FIR) has been filed. “No illegal drugs were recovered, and no individual lodged a formal complaint about being detained forcibly,” he said.
Officials said further inquiries are ongoing to verify the conditions and practices inside the sealed facility.
