Rehab centre shut for violating inmates
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 30: In a major breakthrough in addressing the issue of human rights violations of drug users in Manipur, the State Government authorities have shut down a private de-addiction centre permanently.
Phirep Rehabilitation Centre at Chini Ingkhol, Bishnupur district was shut for grave human rights violations following the direction of the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC).
Notably, Union of Treatment and Rehabilitation of Users for Social Transformation (U-TRUST) had filed two formal complaints with the MHRC against the private de-addiction centre.
U-TRUST, in a statement, said the complaints were filed against the rehab centre for "abduction of drug users by conspiring with local organisations for forced drug treatment, illegal confinement and physical assault".
The complaints then prompted the MHRC to direct the Department of Social Welfare to conduct an immediate inspection of the centre along with the police.
The MHRC also took note of a submission of the U-TRUST to initiate strict legal action against the authorities of the centre on the ground that the same persons were running another rehabilitation centre under a different name.
Meanwhile, the inspection carried out by the Social Welfare Department found the allegations to be true, and subsequently, the centre was shut permanently, said U-TRUST.
The U-TRUST, in its statement, appreciated the MHRC for further directing the Department of Social Welfare to ensure strict compliance of all statutory guidelines, rules and procedures governing the registration and operation of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres.
The MHRC's directions will remain a precedent and a marker for legal consequences of abduction and forced treatment of drug users, said U-TRUST.
It urged unregistered private rehabilitation centres to submit their proposal letter for registration to the department concerned at the earliest for compliance to all statutory guidelines.
IMPHAL, Dec 30: In a major breakthrough in addressing the issue of human rights violations of drug users in Manipur, the State Government authorities have shut down a private de-addiction centre permanently.
Phirep Rehabilitation Centre at Chini Ingkhol, Bishnupur district was shut for grave human rights violations following the direction of the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC).
Notably, Union of Treatment and Rehabilitation of Users for Social Transformation (U-TRUST) had filed two formal complaints with the MHRC against the private de-addiction centre.
U-TRUST, in a statement, said the complaints were filed against the rehab centre for "abduction of drug users by conspiring with local organisations for forced drug treatment, illegal confinement and physical assault".
The complaints then prompted the MHRC to direct the Department of Social Welfare to conduct an immediate inspection of the centre along with the police.
The MHRC also took note of a submission of the U-TRUST to initiate strict legal action against the authorities of the centre on the ground that the same persons were running another rehabilitation centre under a different name.
Meanwhile, the inspection carried out by the Social Welfare Department found the allegations to be true, and subsequently, the centre was shut permanently, said U-TRUST.
The U-TRUST, in its statement, appreciated the MHRC for further directing the Department of Social Welfare to ensure strict compliance of all statutory guidelines, rules and procedures governing the registration and operation of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres.
The MHRC's directions will remain a precedent and a marker for legal consequences of abduction and forced treatment of drug users, said U-TRUST.
It urged unregistered private rehabilitation centres to submit their proposal letter for registration to the department concerned at the earliest for compliance to all statutory guidelines.