Ludhiana, Jan. 31 -- Khanna Police on Friday rescued over 150 inmates from four unauthorised de-addiction centres-three in Khanna and one in Payal-after intelligence gathered during interrogations of arrested gang members pointed to their exploitation by criminal networks. Several of the rescued individuals were found to have direct links with organised gangs, police said.

Khanna senior superintendent of police Darpan Ahluwalia said, the operation, conducted under Operation Prahar, was launched following statements from associates of gangster Ravi Rajgarh, apprehended earlier in a police encounter, which revealed a disturbing nexus between illegal rehabilitation centres and criminal gangs.

Rather than providing treatment, these centres ...