UPROAR AFTER YOUTH’S DEATH

UPROAR AFTER YOUTH’S DEATH

1-NOV-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

SASARAM----------------------A major uproar erupted on Saturday following the death of a young man at a de-addiction and rehabilitation center in Sasaram, in the district of Rohtas. Angered by the incident, the family of the deceased, along with other individuals admitted to the center, staged a protest and leveled several serious allegations against the center's operator. The incident has raised significant questions regarding the operational practices of the de-addiction center.

According to the information received, the deceased was 24-year-old Satyam Kumar Soni, son of Prem Kumar Soni, a resident of Obra (Durga Chowk) in Aurangabad district. He was struggling with an addiction to alcohol, cannabis, and brown sugar; consequently, his family had admitted him to the Sasaram-based de-addiction and rehabilitation center on October 15.

The family members and other protesters allege that those admitted to the center were subjected to physical abuse. They claim that the residents did not receive proper medical treatment, nor were they provided with meals on time. Furthermore, the family has accused the center's operator of preventing them from meeting the patient and repeatedly demanding money under the pretext of providing treatment.

Notably, the family returned to the center to stage a protest only after completing the last rites of the deceased. The protesters have demanded that the administration take strict action against the facility. In the wake of the incident, several other families are now preparing to withdraw their loved ones from the center and take them home. A large crowd of local residents gathered at the scene.

Serious questions have been raised regarding the functioning of the Sasaram de-addiction and rehabilitation center. However, the allegations made by the family have not yet been officially confirmed; a formal investigation will be required to determine whether there was any negligence on the part of the management leading to the young man's death.

According to available information, there are currently 50 individuals admitted to the de-addiction and rehabilitation center in Sasaram. The center charged a fee of 10,000 rupees per person for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients admitted for substance abuse. It was also reported that, in certain circumstances, the center would request additional payments from the patients' families.