Suspicious death leads to closure of rehab centre
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 03 2022: Following the suspicious death of an inmate, a de-addiction centre has been closed down.

One inmate of Revive Drug De-Addiction Cum Rehabilitation Centre, Utlou Chanura Heibi Makhong was brought dead to Saiyon Hospital, Nambol Bazar last night.

The deceased inmate has been identified as one Lukram Ningthou alias Sanjoy (32) s/o L Raghumani of Nambol Phoijing Awang Leikai.

According to family members of Ningthou, he and a friend were arrested by a team of Nambol police station on May 31 on the charge of consuming drugs.

Ningthou was sent to Revive Drug De-Addiction Cum Rehabilitation Centre on the same day while his friend was sent to another centre.

Ningthou's wife Priya received a phone call from Nambol police station at around 10 pm yesterday.

Suspicious death leads to closure of rehab centre

Saying that an incident had occurred, the police personnel asked Priya to come with some family members to talk about the incident.

When family members went to Saiyon Hospital, Ningthou was found dead.

Some doctors of the hospital said that Ningthou was brought dead.

It was learnt that police informed the family members about situation after three staff of the de-addiction centre who brought Ningthou to the hospital surrendered to police.

The family members said that they saw many bruises and injury marks on different parts of Ningthou's body.

They alleged that Ningthou died due to excessive beating by the staff of the centre.

Meanwhile, Nambol police have taken the body from Saiyon Hospital to RIMS mortuary while three staff of the de-addiction centre have been detained.

Ningthou is survived by his wife and a two year old daughter.

On the other hand, two NGOs viz; Drug Users Federation for Human Rights and Justice and the Committee on Suitable Guideline for Non-Funded Private Rehabilitation Centres made a direct assessment of the Revive Drug De-Addiction Cum Rehabilitation Centre this morning and shut down the centre.

They also lodged a formal complaint at Nambol police station seeking initiation of due legal action against all those involved in the suspicious death of Ningthou.

Meanwhile, a joint press release issued by the Development and Protection United Voluntary Organisation, Nambol and the Nambol Apunba Nupi Lup informed that the Revive Drug De-Addiction Cum Rehabilitation Centre has been closed for good.

The two organisations urged police to pull up all the people responsible for the death of Ningthou in addition to the three staff already detained by Nambol police.

They made it clear that if any private party or NGO should open de-addiction centres in Nambol area, they must strictly abide by the guidelines issued by Social Welfare Department.

They also urged the Government to closely monitor such de-addiction centres.