More than 20 youths rescued from illegal drug de-addiction centre

As many as 22 youths were rescued from an illegal drug de-addiction centre here during a raid conducted by the district administration.

Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, said the youths were kept in two "unhygienic" rooms of a building at Partap Nagar locality.

SDM Rajesh Sharma, who was part of the raiding team said all the rescued youths have been admitted to Swami Vivekanand de-addiction centre which was being run by Government Medical College Amritsar.

Sharma said the youths were beaten up at the centre.

The action came after Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra on Thursday had ordered a crackdown on illegal drug de-addiction centres.

Notably, police had freed 250 young men from an illegal drug de-addiction centre near Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district three days back.