Inmate dies at rehab centre, bodies cry foul
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 03 2022: A 32-year old inmate of Revive Drug de-addiction Rehabilitation Centre, Utlou Chanura Heibi Makhong under Nambol Police Station died in a suspicious manner at the centre on Thursday.

The deceased has been identified as Lukram Sanjay alias Ningthou (32) son of Raghumani of Nambol Phoijing Awang Leikai.

He is survived by his wife and a daughter.

Three members of the rehabilitation centre have surrendered to Nambol police in connection with the case.

Locals of Nambol Phoijing Awang Leikai on Friday convened a meeting and formed a committee against the custodial death of Sanjay alias Ningthou.

Speaking in this regard, family members of the deceased informed that Sanjay was sent to the rehabilitation centre by his wife on May 31 with the hope of recovery from addiction.

However, on Thursday evening, Nambol police called his wife to come at the police station informing that there was some incident.

Upon reaching the police station, it was learnt that her husband passed away at Saiyol Hospital located at Nambol Makha Leikai on the same day.

The family members suspected that Sanjay died due to thrashing as several bruise marks were spotted on his body.

The family members further demanded authorities concerned to arrest all the culprits involved and punish them stringently.

The lifeless body of Sanjay has been kept at RIMS morgue for post mortem examination and an FIR registered at Nambol police station.

Meanwhile, Drug Users' Federation for Human Rights and Justice, Committee on Sustainable Guidelines for Non-Funded Private Rehabilitation Centres reportedly despatched a fact-finding team to the centre on Friday.

In a joint statement, the bodies claimed to have been revealed by some inmates that Lukram Sanjay was tortured and beaten to death on Thursday.

According to the information culled from the spot, eight people including chief functionary, staffers, and after care patients were involved in the heinous crime, the release alleged.

Owing to the heinous nature of the crime perpetrated in the name of drug treatment, the joint team resolved to indefinitely shut down the rehabilitation centre and also lodged a complaint to Nambol police for prompt and immediate legal action against the culprits.

In separate releases, Harm Reduction Network Manipur (HRNM) and Association of Drug Users Manipur (ADUM) strongly denounced the suspicious death of an inmate of Revive Drug de-addiction cum rehabilitation centre.

Stating that similar incidents have happened in the past in rehabilitation centres of the state, it lamented that there has been no report of any arrest involved in these incidents.

While demanding the authorities concerned to take up all necessary initiatives so that such incidents do not recur, the release also shared the pain and grief of the bereaved family.

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