Cops are wrongly detaining former addicts going through rehabilitation: Mumbai NGO

Cops say action initiated based on complaints they received from pedestrians passing by the NGO’s rehabilitation centre

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) operating a drug rehabilitation centre near Tardeo regional transport office (RTO) has alleged that the police are wrongly detaining former addicts, who are part of the de-addiction programme at the centre.

NGO said wrongful detention will deter other addicts seeking rehabilitation. (Representational photo)

In the past six months, the Tardeo police have detained five people seeking opioid substitution therapy at the rehabilitation centre in Mumbai Central. In their defence, the police said the action was taken after they received complaints of nuisance created by drug addicts outside the centre.

In the latest incident, Tardeo police detained a 30-year-old man on December 21 from outside the centre run by Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust. The detainee is part of a de-addiction programme at the centre. The centre said the man, who was found by the field workers, was undergoing opioid substitution therapy — a programme run by the government — since November.

“A policeman in a civil dress detained the man while he was on his way to the centre to get his daily medicines. He is a former drug addict, who has been put on opioid substitution therapy,” said Ashwini Sutar, programme manager, Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust.

Eldred Tellis, founder of the NGO, wrote to the senior inspector at Tardeo police station and said the police action was ‘out of sync’ with the rationale of the de-addiction programme.

The letter reads: “The action taken by the police doesn’t go hand-in-hand with our immediate need of working with drug users in an enabling environment. Hence, it is of utmost importance that your police team understand our work and support it.”

Tellis added that other drug users may not avail help from the NGO fearing detention by the police.

“This means escalation of HIV among addicts, who share a needle while doing drugs,” Tellis wrote.

Commenting on the issue, a senior official from Tardeo police station said they were only acting on complaints they have been receiving.

“We had received complaints that drug addicts sit outside the centre and create nuisance for the passers-by. We met the NGO authorities to discuss the matter,” said Sanjay Surve, senior inspector, Tardeo police station.