POLICE CAT WALK OF VIRK AND KPS GILL UNDER

INDIAN GOVERNMENT POLICY 

Here's how the 'cats' continue to hound the people of Punjab:

• Involved in crime ranging from extortion, land grabbing to smuggling narcotics
• Around 300 cats at large even now
• It is only this month that the police-cat nexus has been officially acknowledged

In the dark days of insurgency, the Punjab of the '80s, they were referred to as 'cats'. They still are, some former placed militants in the movement (CATS) turned police informers declared dead or missing, given fresh identities and put under the care of police handlers. With terrorism a thing of the past, the cats have long outlived their utility. But they continue to haunt the land, some of them as phantom henchmen of police officials engaged in crimes ranging from extortion to land-grabbing to narcotics smuggling. In fact, some figures say there are close to 300 militants with new identities still operating in the state.

            The modus operandi is simple. Since the cats have 'immunity' from the law, they operate at will. According to police sources, several officers are known to have encouraged the criminal activities of former placed militants (CATS) and even used them for personal profit. Says leading human rights lawyer R.S. Bains: "For long, we have been saying that disputed properties in and around Chandigarh are being bought up by police officers with the help of henchmen. The very anonymity the cats enjoy gives them a certain immunity and most are still violent in their approach."

                     In recent times, there have even been several instances of former 'cats' going back to their criminal ways. Kulwant Singh 'Kanta', a typical placed militant-turned- informer and inducted into the police force as a reward, was involved in kidnapping a businessman's son two years ago. He died in jail this year. Another 'cat' is the infamous Gurmeet Singh who rose to become a police inspector. He is currently in jail after being convicted for murdering a Ludhiana resident. Paramjeet Singh 'Pamma' from Ajnala was booked two years ago for dealing in narcotics. Other former militants like Rana and Ravinderjit Singh too face similar charges.

               Police officers admit the 'rehabilitation' of those who followed the cult of the gun has not been very successful, post militancy. But they add that it was a risk which had to be taken. Many like Bains, though, feel the cats and their handlers in the police should be reined in. He says: "This was a lethal force at the command of the police used for the highest purpose in national interest. But now they are spilling out like rats, also till today they got monthly salary, shelter, cars and other luxury facilities from the government, only because the handlers are not exercising sufficient discretion. It makes  them all the more dangerous."

                 All along, the criminal activities of these 'lapsed' militants were not subjected to any detailed investigation. It only came under the scanner when there was a public outcry against a murder or a kidnapping. In fact, the police and placed militant nexus was officially acknowledged for the first time this month in the FIR filed by the state vigilance bureau against recently disgraced ex-DGP S.S. Virk. A much celebrated cop, a and part of K.P.S Gill's crack team that put down movement in Punjab, Virk grabbed four acres of land from a war widow with the help of Sukhwinder Singh (Sukhi), an ex-terrorist. To quote from the FIR: "He (Virk) kept a private group of former terrorists to  grab and retain such ill-gotten properties." During the days of militancy, Sukhi had been arrested by the police in Ludhiana.

             Virk abused his official position to get the terrorist released. In police records, Sukhi, wanted for several killings, was falsely shown to have escaped from custody and given the fake identity of Harjit Singh Kahlon. His present arrest has led to him threatening to reveal the names of other 'cats', who he says have been 'rehabilitated' by the police. And Virk, far from pleading innocence, had this to say after his arrest: "Cats are a reality and cannot be written off now. But action is not being taken against all

officers, why am I alone being targeted?"

            Needless to say, the vigilance case against Virk has virtually set the 'cat' among the pigeons and made public one of the dirtiest secrets of the Punjab Police. Many fear that if a detailed investigation is launched into the police and placed militant nexus, it could expose more skeletons than the authorities would like. Even police sources admit Virk is not the only officer to have misused the 'cats' for personal benefit.

                 The state's security establishment is currently divided and in turmoil. Some police officers feel that placed militants (CATS) should be protected and their identities kept a secret. A senior officer offered this policing rationale: "If they are exposed, it can affect to the police who make fake killings, grabbing, raping, kidnapping etc. But 'cats' are the mysterious remnants of militancy that cannot be wished away. They are reviled by some but protected by the police as one of their own for the sterling role played by them in the '80s. The first 'cats' made their appearance in 1986 at a time when even the state police was reluctant to take up arms against terrorists.

 
           Later, the cats were useful as spotters and became the terrorists' bane as they knew their bases and the tactics they employed. An officer who had recruited several, "It was one of those unconventional strategies used in counter-terrorist operations and select officers were part of it. Since it was not official government policy, the recruitment, deployment and protection of 'cats' became the responsibility of individual police officers who 'handled' them. Many of them had to be rehabilitated by giving them fake identities to protect them from retribution. Several were also given jobs. Till today, I attend to the problems of my 'cats' and use my influence as a police officer to help them." But after the government accept the cats and give them all facilities like a police officer or IB officer.

                 "Three kinds of people were recruited as cats. The first were those terrorists who broke down during interrogation and agreed to cooperate with the police. Then, there were anti-social elements who were mere mercenaries. The most motivated were people from families affected by terrorist violence. Since they and their families had suffered, the thinking now is that it is only fair if they collect a little money, by hook or by crook." Police officers also admit that some of the best cats, who provided exceptional intelligence, were generally known criminals. It now transpires that they never really  turned over a new leaf.

     Amidst the heightened emotions in police headquarters where the hounding of Sukhi and Virk is being seen as damaging 'national interest' to serve petty political gains, the few voices of reason are in danger of getting drowned. As Bains points out, "This is pseudonationalism being used by vested interests within the police to deflect attention from the corruption cases against Virk. What justification is there for using the likes of Sukhi to grab land, no matter how great a role he performed during terrorism?" No one, as he reiterates, can be above the law.

          In the whole game KPS Gill is also involved, not only Virk make the strategy for this, IB , RAW and Military intelligence is also involved in this to make down the movement in Punjab.

SO IS THERE ANY HUMAN RIGHT IN INDIA TO EXPORE THIS. TILL TODAY ALL THIS IS GOING ON.