The Drug Users’ Federation for Human Rights and Justice and the Committee on Suitable Guidelines for Non Funded Private Rehabilitation Centres have jointly condemned the death of an inmate at Revive Drug De-addiction Centre in Bishnupur district and demanded action against those involved.
The organisations also demanded formulation of stringent standard operating guidelines for de-addiction centres in the state.
They stated that a fact finding team jointly visited the spot to assess the incident of custodial death at the Revive Drug De-addiction Centre located at Utlou Chanura Makhong, Bishnupur district on Thursday night,
During the visit, it was found that one inmate identified as Lukram Ningthou of Nambol Phoijing was severely tortured and beaten to death on Thursday night. Eight persons, including the chief functionary, staff and after care patients were involved in the heinous crime, the joint release stated.
The perpetrators were reportedly identified as chief functionary Takhelmayum Tingku of Khurai Tinsid Road; chief functionary Laiphrakpam Premananda of Sangaiporou; staff Warakpam Theko of Teramakhong; visiting client Sanjenbam Jogesh of Sambrei; after care Thiyam Yaiphaba Singh of Ningom Thongjao; after care Puyam Jabeed Singh of Singjamei Oinam Thingel; after care Naorem Sanjit of Samaram Mamang Leikai and after care Kangabam Chingkhei Singh of Langthabal Thong Ahanbi, it stated.
The release further stated that owing to the heinous and merciless nature of the crime being perpetrated in the name of drug treatment, the joint team resolved to indefinitely shut down the said rehabilitation.
A formal complaint was also lodged at Nambol Police Station, it stated, adding that the authority concerned should take necessary legal action against those involved in the case.
It further appealed to both funded and non-funded rehabilitation centres to refrain from such crimes. It also demanded to the state government to seriously look into the matter and take up appropriate legal actions against those involved in the aforementioned crime; to include a stringent rule in the upcoming Standard Operating Guidelines to be formulated by the Social Welfare department, and put an end to cases of torture and deaths in drug treatment centres.
Meanwhile, the Harm Reduction Network Manipur (HRNM) has also strongly condemned the incident.
The HRNM stated in a release issued on Friday that the incident of suspicious death and torture in rehabilitation centre has been occurring over the last few years.
The demand has been made from various sections of the society to authorities concerned to pay some attention in this regard.
However, due to failure of their action, an instance of suspicious death occurred again recently at Revive Drug De-Addiction Centre cum Rehabilitation Centre, on Thursday night, the HRNM said. It alleged that the dead drug abuser was under treatment for de-addiction in the said centre.
It further appealed to the authorities concerned to take up legal action to prevent any further occurrence of such an incident in the future. Parents or families of the inmate sent their wards to de-addiction centre with hope and expectation to bring normalcy in their life but not to take make them face unbearable torture, the HRNM said.
