M A I N   N E W S

Punjab slashes list of NRI proclaimed offenders by 40%
Tribune News Service

Vital wing The review of the cases was undertaken by the NRI wing of the state police, which was set up in 2008 When the wing was formed, the total number of NRI POs was 1,400. The names of as many as 556 NRIs were removed from the PO list after proper scanning of individual cases The police says more NRI POs are likely to get relief if they make an appearance in court.

Jalandhar, January 5
The Punjab Police has slashed the list of NRI proclaimed offenders (PO) by 40 per cent in the last five years.

The review of the cases was undertaken by the NRI wing of the state police, which was set up in 2008. Talking to The Tribune, the nodal officer of the wing, IG Gurpreet Deo, said: “The names of as many as 556 Punjabi NRIs have been removed from the PO list after proper scanning of the individual cases. When the wing was formed, the total number of NRI POs was 1,400.”

The list now has 844 names, said the IG, adding that nearly 50 more NRI POs may get relief as only minor cases have been pending against them. “These individuals, however, have not appeared even once in the court concerned. If they make an appearance, their names are likely to be struck off from the list of POs,” said Deo.

“If a Punjabi NRI has been declared a PO in a case and a co-accused has been acquitted in that particular case, the former is likely to get relief from the court. But for that, the PO will have to appear in the court,” said the IG. “Similarly, there may be some NRIs who have been falsely implicated by their relatives for ulterior motive. The aggrieved persons can approach us or e-mail their details to nri.pbpolice@gmail.com. We will study the case and provide every possible advice to get the name deleted from the PO list,” said Deo.