In Malerkotla district, police have exposed an illegal de-addiction centre operating at Harian village, and 48 people kept at the centre were rescued, The Tribune reported on Sunday. One person was arrested in the raid, the report said.

Source: The Tribune

In an official video released by Malerkotla Police, officers are seen examining the premises at Harian village, with a group of men — apparently patients at the centre — seated inside, and framed certificates displayed on a table as evidence of the allegedly fake centre. An arrested man was escorted by officers to a police vehicle in the footage.

Source: Malerkotla Police (official Instagram)

Police described the facility as a fake de-addiction centre in their post. The identity of the arrested person and the exact charges had not been detailed in the reports available at the time of writing.

Unlicensed de-addiction centres have been a recurring concern in Punjab's fight against drugs, where families seeking treatment for addicted relatives are advised by officials to verify a centre's licence before admission. Awaaz Punjab will update this story as police release further details.