WSN Bureau
AMRITSAR: The underground hit squads nicknamed Cats enrolled by the state police in the Batala area have begun indulging in rapes, murders, car snatching, extortion at gun point, etc.
Several cases have been reported to senior officials who have intervened to defuse the crisis. In some cases there have been exchanges of fire between the Cats and the security personnel.
A few days ago, three Cats from. Batala left in a Maruti van on a “secret” operation. They were in civilian dress. When they approached a Border Security Force (BSF) naka of 81 Bn near Ghaseetpura village on the Batala Amritsar highway they were asked to stop. Instead the Cats opened fire and the driver of the van tried to speed away. The BSF retaliated seriously injuring all the occupants of the van.
The three were later identified as SubInspector Rashpal Singh, Head constable Kashmir Singh and Head Constable Gulzar Singh. They were taken to hospital and the incident was termed an encounter,
The unchecked movement of the Cats in the disturbed border districts has caused resentment among security personnel and a scare among the people.
Several Cats exploit their authority and power and force people to part with their vehicles and money at gun point. There have been over a dozen such cases in the Batala area.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 15, 1989
