Photo Source; Babushahi Bureau
Tragedy in Batala: 25-year-old youth dies of suspected drug overdose
Rohit Gupta
Gurdaspur (Punjab), April 17, 2025 — In yet another heartbreaking incident that underscores Punjab’s deepening drug crisis, 25-year-old Rohit, son of Charanjit Singh, was found dead in an empty plot in Mann Nagar, Batala.
Locals and family members believe the young man died due to a drug overdose, a tragic fate that continues to claim young lives across the state.
Rohit was reportedly set to leave for Delhi for work on the same evening and had been given money by his father for the journey. But before he could depart, he received a phone call and stepped out — never to return. Hours later, his lifeless body was discovered by locals in a nearby vacant plot.
His father, Charanjit, grief-stricken, said:
“He was my only support. I kept telling him to leave this path, to walk in the Guru’s light… but drugs took him away. Just like that.”
“Drugs Sold Openly; Authorities Remain Silent”
The tragedy has ignited anger among the residents of Mann Nagar. Locals alleged that drug trafficking continues unabated in the area, with no serious action from the authorities.
“There’s a CIA staff office just a few hundred meters from here, and yet drugs are sold in the open. We’ve filed multiple complaints, but no action is ever taken. Instead, when raids are supposed to happen, the smugglers get tipped off in advance,” said a resident.
Locals openly accused certain police officials of being hand-in-glove with drug peddlers, suggesting that only small-time addicts are harassed, while big dealers operate with impunity.
Police Investigating, Cause of Death Yet to Be Confirmed
Police official Sukhdev Singh, who arrived at the scene, confirmed that legal procedures have been initiated.
He stated:
“We have received information about the discovery of a young man’s body in a vacant plot. The cause of death will be confirmed after the postmortem. It could be due to drug overdose or even heat stroke. We are investigating all angles.”