Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, August 18

A 120-year-old protected monument, Raghuvar Bhawan, in Fazilka, is proving to be a haven for drug addicts and gamblers these days.

The addicts can be seen taking drugs, consuming alcohol and playing cards during the afternoon and night in the neglected building. Historian Lachhman Dost, who spearheaded an agitation to get the heritage status for the building about five years ago, alleged addicts took drugs in the remains of the building, which was in a state of total ruin. He claimed used syringes had also been recovered from the building by local residents.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed about 7,700-foot-long wall constructed around the building to prevent access two years ago had now been proving to be a protection for anti-social elements as they have been using it as shelter.

DSP Jasveer Singh said now the matter had been brought to his knowledge, the anti-social elements would be dealt with an iron hand and no one would be allowed to enter the building.

The building, spread over 4 kanal and 18 marlas of Improvement Trust land on the Freedom fighter road is in a shambles due to the “callous” attitude of the district administration and successive governments.