Punjab gives promotions to 5,199 police men in one go

Announcing a string of incentives for the police, Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal Saturday presided over the mass promotion ceremony at the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) ground in Jalandhar, 150 km from here.

“This is the biggest ever mass promotions anywhere in the police force. With this step, we have removed the chronic stagnation at lower levels of the police. This will boost the morale of the force,” said Badal, who is also the state home minister.

A total of 3,599 head constables were made assistant sub-inspectors, while 1,600 constables were promoted to the rank of head constables. Badal said that the Punjab government has recruited over 20,000 police personnel in the last four years.

Among other incentives for the police force, Badal said the entire constabulary will now be entitled to house rent allowance (HRA), cashless medical insurance of Rs.200,000 for all personnel and their dependents, Rs.500,000 ex-gratia for personnel killed on duty and Rs.10 lakh for those killed in action.

He said the Punjab government will also give Rs.1 lakh for the marriage of the daughters of personnel killed during action.