Punjab notifies reward policy for arrest of wanted criminals

Chandigarh: A day after the Punjab cabinet's approval, the Punjab govt on Tuesday notified the ‘Reward Policy of the State of Punjab for the Arrest of Wanted Criminals', empowering field officers and heads of wings to sanction rewards to members of the public whose information led to arrests, as well as to police officers and officials who carried out exceptional operations.Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said, "Under this policy, SSPs are authorised to grant rewards of up to Rs 1 lakh, the commissioner of police and inspector general/deputy inspector general ranges up to Rs 1.5 lakh, wing heads up to Rs 2 lakh, while the DGP can sanction rewards above Rs 2 lakh."
"The policy aims to incentivise both members of the public and police personnel for providing credible and actionable information that leads to the identification, location, and arrest of criminals evading the law. It covers a wide spectrum of wanted criminals, including absconders, proclaimed offenders, habitual offenders, and accused persons deliberately evading arrest," said the DGP.The DGP clarified, "The reward is an ex gratia payment and cannot be claimed as a matter of right. The quantum of the reward will be decided on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the gravity of the offence, the level of risk taken by the informer, and the overall quality of the information provided."He added, "To ensure transparency and safety, the policy mandates a structured recommendation process, and the immediate supervisory gazetted officer involved in the operation must submit a reasoned recommendation certifying the credibility of the information and the specific roles played by the individuals involved." The DGP emphasised, "The identity of people providing information will be protected at all stages."