Punjab health minister asks civil surgeons to crack down on illegal drug de-addiction centres

Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said Thursday the state government will hold civil surgeons personally accountable if they fail to crack down on illegal drug de-addiction centres being run in their respective districts.

Mohindra's statement came two days after police freed 250 young men from an illegal drug de-addiction centre near Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district.

The young men, confined in a big room, were being treated as bonded labourers and beaten up everyday, according to police.

"As per the instructions issued, civil surgeon of the respective district would be held personally accountable in case any case of illegal drug de-addiction centre being run in their district is reported," Mohindra said in a statement.

He expressed shock that the illegal drug de-addiction centre in Rupnagar functioned without coming to notice of the authorities.

He said illegal activities under the guise of social service would not be tolerated and people behind such de-addiction centres would be punished.

Also, the district health authorities would be brought to the books for their negligence, adding that a departmental inquiry has been initiated against the Rupnagar civil surgeon and senior medical officer of Chamkaur Sahib.