Chandigarh, Feb. 21 -- The Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government on Thursday rolled out the "Haryana Witness Protection Scheme, 2025" to ensure the protection of the witnesses as the state gears up to implement the three new criminal laws.

As per the notification by the home department, the scheme will be applicable to the witnesses of those offences which are punishable with death or life imprisonment or imprisonment up to seven years and above.

It will also cover punishments under sections 74, 75, 76, 77, 78 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as well as under Sections 8, 10, 12, 14 and 15 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

A government spokesperson said that under the scheme, there will be three ...