The Association of Drug Users, Manipur (ADUM) on Saturday condemned the gross human rights violation against inmates in drug treatment centres and staged a sit-in protest in Imphal. It demanded authorities concerned to monitor private de-addiction centres with appropriate guidelines and punish those involved in the suspicious deaths at rehabilitation centres.
The protest was held at Yaipha Thouni Shanglen, Leimajam Leikai.
Adressing the media, ADUM president L Gopicharan said that incidents of suspicious deaths of people who use drugs (PUDs) in de-addiction centres during their treatment is getting rampant.
As per information and data obtained from various sources, in the past 10 years, it has been reported that around 10 PUDs were tortured to death in various drug treatment centres in the state, he said.
As per their observation, most of these incidents occurred in rehabilitation centres which are run by incompetent and unprofessional staff, he alleged.
Terming the recent suspicious death on June 2 at Revive De-addiction centre cum rehabilitation centre at Utlou, Bishnupur unfortunate, he said that PUDs should have the right to live with dignity.
The state government should monitor all de-addiction centres strictly with specific guidelines to prevent such unwanted incidents, he said.
The Manipur State Policy on Psychoactive Substance-2019 should be translated into action shortly, he added.
Gopicharan also said that the state government should take strong action against those who are involved in suspicious deaths at rehabilitation centres.
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