- News
- India News
- Terror regime exposed at de-addiction centre
Trending
This story is from October 10, 2006
Terror regime exposed at de-addiction centre
A TOI team during investigations found that inmates lodged there were routinely tortured and abused.
MOHALI: They wanted a chance to start a fresh life, away from the deadly shadow of drugs. Instead, it was humiliation and inhuman treatment bordering on the perverse that they were subjected to.
A day after the plight of 70 inmates admitted to Paras Foundation Drug De-addiction centres at Mohali in Punjab was brought to light by the Chandigarh edition of The Times of India, a group of human rights lawyers and police on Sunday swooped down on the centres, and rescued the tortured inmates.
A TOI team during investigations found that inmates lodged there were routinely tortured and abused. In fact, some of the photographs in the possession of TOI, are too stark to be published.
One of the inmates, described how he was subjected to what can be called third degree treatment, had a deep gash on his buttocks.
"I bled for days after that. No one bothered to see what I was going through." Most of the 70 inmates at the drug de-addiction centre have similar, harrowing tales.
Many of them came out in turns to tell how they would be beaten up with a baton after being stripped.
The slightest show of indiscipline, as minor as forgetting to switch off the lights before going to sleep, would be met with orders to sit on their haunches for hours.
All the while they would face wall even as the punishment lasted for hours. Another inmate, Roop Lall, said, "It is better that we remained drug addicts. People at this centre will only kill us."
He added that each of them has to pay Rs 3,500 per month as upkeep at the Foundation. But for the money, they get pathetic food, prepared in unhygienic conditions — something that the TOI team witnessed in the kitchen — and sleep on floor.
They get no pillows. There is no trace of any medical assistance though it is a known fact that addicts, when they don't get their dose of drugs and suffer from withdrawal symptoms, do get violent, harming themselves and others around them.
There are three volunteers working as staff at Paras Foundation and none is trained to handle this kind of responsibility.
One of them, Jagdeep Singh, said, "Yes, we do beat them up when they don't listen to us. What else is there to do?"
A day after the plight of 70 inmates admitted to Paras Foundation Drug De-addiction centres at Mohali in Punjab was brought to light by the Chandigarh edition of The Times of India, a group of human rights lawyers and police on Sunday swooped down on the centres, and rescued the tortured inmates.
A TOI team during investigations found that inmates lodged there were routinely tortured and abused. In fact, some of the photographs in the possession of TOI, are too stark to be published.
One of the inmates, described how he was subjected to what can be called third degree treatment, had a deep gash on his buttocks.
"I had a boil on my back, but instead of giving me medicines the caretaker just took out a blade and slashed it," said Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Hoshiarpur.
"I bled for days after that. No one bothered to see what I was going through." Most of the 70 inmates at the drug de-addiction centre have similar, harrowing tales.
Many of them came out in turns to tell how they would be beaten up with a baton after being stripped.
The slightest show of indiscipline, as minor as forgetting to switch off the lights before going to sleep, would be met with orders to sit on their haunches for hours.
All the while they would face wall even as the punishment lasted for hours. Another inmate, Roop Lall, said, "It is better that we remained drug addicts. People at this centre will only kill us."
He added that each of them has to pay Rs 3,500 per month as upkeep at the Foundation. But for the money, they get pathetic food, prepared in unhygienic conditions — something that the TOI team witnessed in the kitchen — and sleep on floor.
They get no pillows. There is no trace of any medical assistance though it is a known fact that addicts, when they don't get their dose of drugs and suffer from withdrawal symptoms, do get violent, harming themselves and others around them.
There are three volunteers working as staff at Paras Foundation and none is trained to handle this kind of responsibility.
One of them, Jagdeep Singh, said, "Yes, we do beat them up when they don't listen to us. What else is there to do?"
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Hot Picks
TOP TRENDING
Trending Stories
In India
Entire Website
- UPS vs NPS Calculator: Is A Switch From National Pension Scheme to Unified Pension Scheme Really A No-Brainer? Check Calculations, Benefits - Top Points
- Monster vs Monster: WWE announced massive match for this week's Monday Night Raw
- UPI transaction limit to change from September 16! Here are the new limits for various UPI payments
- File movement linked to weight of money: Nitin Gadkari
- Apple's biggest 'iPhone update' for year 2024, iOS 18, rollout starts today - September 16: India time and how to prepare your iPhone for iOS 18 download
- Arvind Kejriwal's resignation: Who will be next Delhi CM? Atishi seen as top choice
- UP medical aspirants converting religion to secure MBBS seats: A look at NEET UG admission criteria around minority reservation rules
- Protests against students wearing hijab in school play, principal forced to apologize for promoting religious harmony
- Pitru Paksha 2024 Date and Time: Know Significance of Shradh Paksha
- Andhra suspends 3 IPS officers for 'framing', arresting Mumbai actress
- Kolkata police commissioner, two health officials removed after Mamata's meeting with docs
- BAPS swaminarayan temple vandalised in New York; 'unacceptable', says Indian consulate
- Will Atishi replace Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi CM?
- 'Look at own record': India condemns remarks by Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei
- Watch: BJP MLA falls on rly tracks while flagging off Vande Bharat train
- 'Political rivals but ... ': BJP's reaction on Bittu's Rahul 'No. 1 terrorist' remark
- Cow vigilantes killing a Brahmin is the wake-up call India needed
- Apple's biggest 'iPhone update' for year 2024 rollout starts today
- MHA to open Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandars for civilians in Manipur
- UPS vs NPS Calculator: Switch a no-brainer? Not really! Check top points
Popular Categories
Hot on the Web
Top Trends
Prince HarryWho is Ryan RouthUPI Transaction LimitArvind Kejriwal ResignationNEET UG Admission CriteriaKolkata Doctor Rape CaseUS Presidential ElectionsRohit SharmaSports Stars Turned Power CouplesIBPS RRB Clark PO ResultDonald TrumpCristiano RonaldoIndia vs Korea HighlightsBMW Accident Madhya PradeshUPS vs NPS CalculatorMiami Dolphins OwnerLive Cricket Score
Trending Topics
Living and entertainment
Latest News
Who was Illia 'Golem' Yefimchyk, the Belarusian bodybuilder who consumed 2.5 kg of meat and 108 sushi pieces daily before his death at 36?Vempalle Shareef's story is now a lesson for degree students in Andhra PradeshGovt launches programme to tackle glacial lake outburst flood threat in Himalayas, all 190 high-risk lakes to be monitoredKhatron Ke Khiladi 14: Shalin Bhanot hosts a fun party for his co-contestants Krishna Shroff, Abhishek Kumar, KaranVeer Mehra and othersAstrological Influence on Zodiac Signs' Career ChoicesBike rally held to raise voter awareness in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda ahead of assembly electionsFalcons' Predictable Offense and Cousins' Prime-Time Woes Spell Trouble in PhiladelphiaLiza Colon becomes 1st Latina to win Best Supporting Emmy Award'Oh no!': Hilarious goof-up leads to missed catch, leaves bowler in smile. WatchJr NTR on shooting under water scene for 35 days in 'Devara Part 1': It is an important sequence!Top NFL Superstars Who Are Vegan: Derrick Morgan, David Carter, Theo Riddick and moreKSCA Invitational: Arjun Tendulkar takes match haul of 9 wickets in big Goa CA XI winAbhishek Kumar shares selfies with Alia Bhatt; recalls the time when he worked as a crowd artist in ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya’Jessica Gunning wins her 1st Primetime Emmy for 'Baby Reindeer'Shocking! Man celebrates birthday by lying among massive PythonsSohum Shah says 'Tumbbad 2' will be different from 'Munjya' and 'Stree 2': 'They are not making dadi-nani ki kahaniyaan'1031 candidates to contest Haryana Assembly Elections to be held on October 5: CEO J AgarwalSathiyan set to partner Sreeja in mixed doubles
Copyright © 2024 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service