A theft of 5,560 government-issued de-addiction tablets has been reported from an OAT (Opioid Assisted Treatment) Centre in Kapurthala. The incident came to light during a surprise inspection conducted by the Medical Officer of Community Health Centre (CHC) Fattudhinga. Following the complaint, police arrested an employee posted at the centre and initiated further investigation into the matter.
According to police officials at Fattudhinga police station, CHC Fattudhinga Medical Officer Abhishek Gill stated in his complaint that he conducted a surprise inspection of the OAT Centre operating within the hospital premises on May 12. During verification of the medicine stock, officials found a shortage of 5,560 tablets supplied by the government for patients undergoing de-addiction treatment.
The Medical Officer questioned Simranjit Singh, a staff member posted at the OAT Centre and a resident of Dugalanwala village in Tarn Taran district, regarding the missing stock. However, the accused failed to provide any satisfactory explanation or account for the missing tablets. It was thereafter suspected that the tablets had been stolen and misappropriated, following which the Medical Officer immediately informed the police.
Investigating Officer ASI Parmjit Singh of Fattudhinga police station said that acting on the complaint, police arrested accused Simranjit Singh and initiated interrogation. Police are probing where the stolen tablets were supplied and whether they were sold illegally. So far, no involvement of any other person has surfaced in the investigation.
