punjab

Updated: Jun 23, 2018 13:28 IST

Two youths, including a son of a local leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has been protesting against the drug menace in the state, purportedly died of “drug overdose” in the Chheharta area here, police sources said on Friday.

Bodies of Karan Pasi, 27, and Harpreet Singh, 30, were recovered from the house of the former during wee hours on Friday. Pasi was son of Moti Lal Pasi, joint secretary of the AAP’s urban unit, said Suresh Sharma, president of the party’s urban unit, expressing condolence with the grieving family.

The police reportedly came to know 48 hours after their death after the neighbours informed the police about a foul smell emanating from the house. Police recovered the bodies from a bed. A syringe was recovered from the spot.

“Karan Passi was married two years ago and his wife resides in New Zealand. He was also planning to go there. His mother was suffering from a spine-related ailment and, after getting treatment from a Chandigarh-based hospital, she went to her parental home at Patti in Tarn Taran district. My brother had gone to Patti to take her. In his absence, Karan called his friend to his house,” said.

Jawahar Lal, uncle of the deceased.

A few syringes were recovered from the spot. “It made us assume that they died of drug overdose,” said Harish Behal, station house officer of the Chheharta police station. “Although, a syringe was recovered near the bodies, the exact reason cannot be fully ascertained till the autopsy report is received. There may be other reason too behind the death,” said Lakhbir Singh, additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP-2).

The bodies had got highly decomposed, due to which they could not be identified easily. Even, the kin found it very difficult to identify the deceased.