Chandigarh, April 11 – The Punjab government announced on Saturday that it had authorized the Punjab Police to reward informants under its new "reward policy" for providing information about wanted criminals and gangsters or their network within the state.
The government also released a list of 28 most wanted criminals. Under the "Gangstran Te Vaar" project, the government has approved sanction powers of up to Rs 1 lakh for the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP); Rs 1.5 lakh for the Commissioner of Police, Range Inspector General of Police, and Deputy Inspector General of Police; Rs 2 lakh for the heads of wings (Special Director General of Police and Additional Director General of Police); and above Rs 2 lakh for the Director General of Police (DGP). This amount will only be awarded to informants who provide correct and genuine information.
The project has been introduced to increase the involvement of residents in helping the government and the police make the state safe.
"The information will be verified first, and the informants will be rewarded according to the criteria. The identity of the informants will not be disclosed or made public at any level of the police, public, or government. The aim is to close all avenues for criminals and gangsters operating in the state, and the Punjab government aims to go to any length to achieve this goal," said Pramod Ban, ADGP, Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF).
Information can be shared at the "Anti-Gangster Helpline" 9394693946.
"Informants who provide credible information that leads to the arrest of wanted criminals, proclaimed offenders, and habitual offenders will be rewarded. The Punjab Police will follow the leads provided by the informants. This project will also give extra support to the Punjab Police network in stopping troublemakers. The information gathered through this project will also be used to enhance 'Gangstran Te Vaar' under operation Prahaar," said Pramod Ban.
This will be a high-quality reward program where the identity of the tipsters will be protected. "We want more and more people to come forward to help the government and the police in curbing criminal activity in the state. It is our duty and responsibility to safeguard every resident of this state. We will only entrust the information after proper vetting, and there is no question of any danger to the informant," he added.
The amount will be decided on a case-by-case basis depending on the severity of the offense, the risks involved, and the quality of the information. This policy is part of the ongoing "Gangstran Te Vaar" campaign aimed at making Punjab free from gangsters.