Police further empowered in criminal tracking trail

Move to help tighten noose around criminal elements

LUCKNOW: Now the UP director general of police can declare a reward up to ₹ 2.5 lakh on notorious and dreaded criminals while the district police chiefs can declare up to ₹25,000 on such criminals. Adopting a tough stance against criminals, the state government on Saturday enhanced the delegation of financial powers to field officers for declaration of reward amount on criminals.

LUCKNOW: Now the UP director general of police can declare a reward up to ₹ 2.5 lakh on notorious and dreaded criminals while the district police chiefs can declare up to ₹ 25,000 on such criminals.

Adopting a tough stance against criminals, the state government on Saturday enhanced the delegation of financial powers to field officers for declaration of reward amount on criminals.

These rewards are announced on criminals according to their notoriety in the crime world.

This enhancement of financial powers follows back to back encounter of criminals since the formation of Bharatiya Janta Party government in the state. Nearly 15 dreaded criminals have been gunned down, 84 injured during police firing and 1106 arrested since March 20 this year.

The field officers of senior superintendent of police (SSP)/ and superintendent of police (SP) level have been empowered to announce reward up to ₹ 25,000 in place of the earlier amount of Rs 5,000.

The officers of inspector general (IGs) of police / deputy IG (DIGs) of ranges can now announce up to ₹ 50,000. Earlier, the IGs could announce reward only up to ₹ 15,000.

Similarly, the field officers of additional director general (ADG) of police/ IGs at zonal level can declare reward up to ₹ 1 lakh and the DGP up to ₹ 2.5 lakh.

Earlier, the DGP could announce the reward up to ₹50,000 only.

Moreover, the principal secretary/ secretary home level officers may now announce the reward up to ₹ 5 lakh which was earlier restricted to ₹ 2.5 lakh.

The government order, under signed by secretary (home), Mani Prasad Mishra (dated September 16, 2017) reads that this increase in financial powers to field officers is made effective with immediate effect.

This increase in financial powers for declaration of reward amount on criminals comes after eight years. In 2009, it was done during the Bahujan Samaj Party regime when the SSPs/SPs had power to announce reward of ₹ 2,500 only.

The order also states that the reward amount designated to field officers was very small and this enhancement in financial powers would boost the morale of police officers and be helpful in tightening the noose around criminal elements.