Kapurthala, April 9: Police in Kapurthala have initiated a criminal investigation into the death of a local youth, Shali, who died after a suspected drug overdose on Wednesday. Following a complaint from the victim’s father, Hans Raj, authorities have registered a case against the youth’s associates for allegedly administering the lethal narcotic dose that led to his death.
The victim had reportedly returned to his village just a few days prior after working in Mumbai. On the morning of the incident, four friends—identified as Sawan, Ajay, Dilpreet, and Karan—reportedly picked him up from his residence. DSP Karnail Singh maintained that when Shali returned home, he was highly intoxicated and admitted to his parents that he had used drugs. Despite efforts to provide medical care, he was pronounced dead at a nearby medical facility.
SSP Gaurav Tura stated that early investigations point to a likely overdose, though the circumstances remain under scrutiny. “We have moved to register a case under the relevant sections for culpable homicide not amounting to murder against a friend suspected of providing the lethal dose,” the SSP declared. He also noted that other reported deaths in the area, including those of Billa in Raipur Araiyan and Balbir Singh, appear to be due to natural causes or unrelated medical issues, though all involved individuals had a history of drug use.
The district has seen heightened police activity this week, including a massive joint operation in Talwandi Madho where 70 youths were identified for rehabilitation. The recent string of fatalities, including the widely reported loss of Manjeet Kaur’s fifth son to addiction, has spurred the administration to tighten enforcement. Officials asserted that they are committed to dismantling the financial and supply chains that sustain the narcotics trade in the region.
