The family of Jasbir Singh, an ex-sarpanch who was battling alcohol addiction has alleged that he was killed due to negligence by an illegal de-addiction center. The 47-year-old was admitted to de-addiction center in Tarn Taran last week. He was found dead in the facility five days later. Singh's family said he was tortured there during the treatment and the center lacked beds, medical facilities and did not have doctors to treat addicts. "We received a call at around 9 pm on Monday that Jasbir was not well and was being shifted to Tarn Taran civil hospital. We were on our way when we were told that he had died. We reached the hospital where doctors informed us that he was already dead when brought to them," said Jasbir's nephew Sukhwinder Singh.

The family said the centre was around 37 km from their village and had begun operations two months ago on rented premises. They had sent Singh who was battling alcohol addiction to the facility run by an NGO at the recommendation of a relative.

Singh was a four-time sarpanch of Kapurthala's Kabirpur village till 2003.

An FIR has been registered against those running the rehabilitation facility who are now absconded after his death.