CHANDIGARH, April 11, 2026: In a major step to strengthen its crackdown on crime, the Punjab Government has introduced a new reward policy allowing Punjab Police to reward informers who provide credible information about wanted criminals and gangster networks. Along with this, the government has also released a list of 28 most wanted criminals in the state.
The initiative has been launched under the ongoing anti-gangster campaign ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’, aimed at making Punjab safer and free from organized crime.
Reward Policy to Encourage Public Participation
Under the new policy, different levels of police officers have been given powers to sanction rewards based on the importance of the information.
Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) can approve rewards up to ₹1 lakh, Commissioners of Police and senior officers up to ₹1.5 lakh, and heads of wings up to ₹2 lakh. Rewards above ₹2 lakh will be approved by the Director General of Police (DGP).
Officials said that the reward will be given only after proper verification of the information. The identity of the informer will be kept completely confidential to ensure safety and encourage more people to come forward.
ADGP Pramod Ban stated that the aim of the policy is to involve citizens in the fight against crime and completely break the network of gangsters operating in the state.
Helpline Launched, Informers Assured Safety
The Punjab Police has asked citizens to share information through the Anti-Gangster Helpline number 93946-93946.
Officials said that informers who provide credible inputs leading to the arrest of wanted criminals, proclaimed offenders or habitual offenders will be rewarded. The amount will be decided based on the seriousness of the crime, risk involved and quality of information.
The police assured that all information will be properly verified before action, and there will be no risk to the informer as strict confidentiality will be maintained.
Massive Crackdown Under ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ Campaign
As part of the campaign, Punjab Police has already carried out large-scale operations across the state. So far, 56,487 raids have been conducted at locations linked to gangster networks.
The campaign has resulted in 19,894 arrests since its launch. Preventive action has been taken against 9,353 individuals, while 15,284 people were questioned and later released after verification.
In addition, 851 proclaimed offenders have been arrested during the drive, showing the strong impact of the ongoing crackdown.
The government said that the reward policy will further strengthen police efforts and help dismantle criminal networks by encouraging public cooperation.
Residents can anonymously share information about criminals and suspicious activities through the helpline, helping authorities maintain law and order across the state.
