In a significant move to strengthen the ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign aimed at making Punjab a gangster-free state, the Punjab Government on Tuesday notified the ‘Reward Policy of the State of Punjab for the Arrest of Wanted Criminals’. The Reward Policy empowers field officers and wing heads (SDGP/ADGP) to sanction rewards to both members of the public and police personnel whose actions or information lead to the arrest of wanted criminals.
This notification follows the approval of the Reward Policy by the Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, to establish a transparent and systematic mechanism for granting rewards. The initiative is aimed at motivating informers and acknowledging the efforts of law enforcement in apprehending criminals evading the law.
DGP Gaurav Yadav Explains Hierarchy of Reward Sanctions in Punjab Reward Policy
Under the Reward Policy , SSPs can grant rewards up to ₹1 lakh, CPs and IGPs/DIGs of Ranges up to ₹1.5 lakh, Wing Heads up to ₹2 lakh, and the DGP Punjab can sanction rewards exceeding ₹2 lakh, stated Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police Punjab.
The Reward Policy covers absconders, proclaimed offenders, habitual offenders, and accused individuals deliberately avoiding arrest. Rewards are ex-gratia payments, decided on a case-to-case basis, considering the seriousness of the offence, the level of risk undertaken by the informer, and the quality of the information provided.
To ensure transparency and safety, the policy requires a structured recommendation process. The supervising Gazetted Officer involved in the operation must submit a reasoned recommendation verifying the credibility of the information and the role played by each individual. The identity of informers will remain protected at all stages, the DGP emphasized, reinforcing the state’s commitment to a safe and accountable law enforcement system.