Amarinder orders probe in drugs-related deaths in Punjab
Chandigarh, July 3: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered investigation into the recent spate of drug-related deaths in the state and directed that stringent action be taken against those found guilty, without considering their political affiliations.
Nearly 35 deaths have been reported in the state in the past one month itself due to drugs abuse and drugs overdose.
The probe was ordered after some social activists met the Chief Minister on Tuesday to highlight the rampant drugs abuse in the state.
Leaders of the main opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also met him in this regard here.
The probe order came just a day after the Punjab cabinet on Monday resolved to recommend, to the to the Union Government, death penalty for drug smugglers and peddlers.
Describing drug abuse as a disease requiring treatment, the Chief Minister stressed on the need for rehabilitation of the victims and for making the anti-drug campaign a people's movement.
Amarinder Singh, who had in 2016 taken a religious vow to wipe out drugs from Punjab within four weeks of coming to power has not been able to deliver on the promise through the government that he heads in Punjab since March 2017.
The opposition AAP and Shiromani Akali Dal have criticized the Congress government for failing to fulfill its promise on curbing drugs abuse in Punjab.
Drugs abuse is rampant, particularly among youth and rural population, in Punjab for the past over two decades.
The drugs racket has its nexus with powerful politicians and police officials.
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Goa nightclub fire: Co-owner Ajay Gupta's police remand extended by four days
Panaji (PTI): A Goa court on Thursday extended by four days the police remand of Ajay Gupta, co-owner of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, where a devastating fire on December 6 killed 25 persons.
Gupta was arrested from New Delhi on December 10. A court in Mapusa had remanded him in police custody for seven days at the time.
Gupta was presented before the lower court, which sent him to four-day police custody as his initial remand was expiring, his advocate Rohan Desai told reporters.
"Gupta had complained about back pain. The court ordered his medical examination, after which he was allowed use of a mattress in custody. He was examined by a specialised doctor at Goa Medical College and Hospital near here," the lawyer said.
Twenty-five persons, including 20 staff members and five tourists, were killed in the major blaze at the nightclub at Arpora in North Goa around midnight of December 6.
Gupta had, during the day, filed an bail application.
So far, eight persons have been arrested in connection with the case, including Gupta, and two other owners - Gaurav Luthra and his brother Saurabh - who were deported from Thailand.
Five other staffers of the nightclub arrested in the case are Rajiv Modak (Corporate General Manager), Priyanshu Thakur (Gate Manager), Rajveer Singhania (Bar Manager), Vivek Singh (General Manager) and Bharat Karan Singh Kohli (employee).
A Look Out Circular (LOC) has been issued against Surinder Kumar Khosla, another owner of the nightclub who is a British citizen, police said.
