Black Cat

187 documented cases directly implicating Black Cat in abduction/disappearance and/or extrajudicial execution:

Amritsar District

Ajnala Subdistrict
Avtar Singh Male, age 35-36 at time of extrajudicial execution, Talwandi Nahar
Baljinder Singh Male, age 20-22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Khanowal
Balwinder Singh Male, age 36 at time of extrajudicial execution, Shahzada
Ranjit Singh Male, age 33 at time of extrajudicial execution, Dayal Bhatti
Amritsar I Subdistrict
Gurcharan Singh Male, age 17-18 at time of extrajudicial execution, Bhilowal
Gurmeet Singh Male, age 17-18 at time of extrajudicial execution, Bhangali
Karnail Singh Male, age 26 at time of extrajudicial execution, Bhilowal
Mukhtiar Singh Male, age 30 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kotla Majhewala
Pargat Singh Male, age 20 at time of extrajudicial execution, Bhangali Kalan
Amritsar II Subdistrict
Angrej Singh Male, age 30 at time of disappearance, Amritsar
Avtar Singh Male, age 20-22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Amritsar
Balbir Singh Male, age 40 at time of extrajudicial execution, Basarke
Bikramjit Singh Male, age 6-7 at time of extrajudicial execution, Basarke
Gurpal Singh Male, age 58-60 at time of extrajudicial execution, Basarke
Gursahib Singh Male, age 25-26 at time of extrajudicial execution, Mandiala
Gurvail Singh Male, age 15 at time of extrajudicial execution, Basarke
Harbajan Kaur Female, age 60-65 at time of extrajudicial execution, Basarke Gillan
Inder Singh Male, age 50-60 at time of extrajudicial execution, Basarke
Inder Singh Male, age 42 at time of extrajudicial execution, Mudhal
Jasbir Singh Male, age 30-35 at time of extrajudicial execution, Amritsar
Jaswinder Singh Male, age 24-25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Amritsar
Judgepal Singh Male, age 24 at time of extrajudicial execution, Amritsar
Kirpal Singh Male, age 25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Amritsar
Mohinder Singh Male, age 60 at time of extrajudicial execution, Basarke
Palwinder Kaur Female, age 3-5 at time of extrajudicial execution, Basarke
Piara Singh Male, age 40-45 at time of extrajudicial execution, Amritsar
Ranjit Kaur Female, age 18-19 at time of extrajudicial execution, Basarke
Sarbjit Kaur Female, age 18 at time of extrajudicial execution, Mudhal
Sarbjit Kaur Female, age 30 at time of extrajudicial execution, Basarke Gillan
Sawinder Kaur Female, age 37 at time of extrajudicial execution, Basarke
Sher Singh Male, age 45 at time of extrajudicial execution, Basarke
Sukhdev Singh Male, age 24 at time of extrajudicial execution, Basarke
Baba Bakala Subdistrict
Bachan Singh Male, age 38 at time of extrajudicial execution, Rajadewal
Darshan Kaur Female, age 35 at time of extrajudicial execution, Rajadewal
Gurjant Kaur Female, age 1 at time of extrajudicial execution, Rajadewal
Harjinder Kaur Female, age 28 at time of extrajudicial execution, Rajadewal
Harjit Singh Male, age 22 at time of disappearance, Buttar Siviya
Madanjit Kaur Female, age 16 at time of extrajudicial execution, Rajadewal
Manjeet Singh Male, age 27 at time of extrajudicial execution, Timmowal
Rajbir Kaur Female, age 7 at time of extrajudicial execution, Rajadewal
Satpal Singh Male, age 28 at time of extrajudicial execution, Tangra
Yadwinder Singh Male, age 4-5 at time of extrajudicial execution, Rajadewal
Khadoor Sahib Subdistrict
Charanjit Singh Male, age 19 at time of extrajudicial execution, Gagrewal
Gurmej Singh Male, age 21-22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Sarli Kalan
Harbaldev Singh Male, age 45 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kuri Wallah
Jagtar Singh Male, age 25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Mian Wind
Randhir Singh Male, age 25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Munda Pind
Rasham Singh Male, age 30 at time of extrajudicial execution, Munda Pind
Sukhwinder Singh Male, age 24-25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kot Mohammad Khan
Patti Subdistrict
Ajaib Singh Male, age 39-40 at time of extrajudicial execution, Thakarpura
Amrik Singh Gill Male, age 20-21 at time of extrajudicial execution, Mahmudpura
Avtar Singh Male, age 31 at time of extrajudicial execution, Shahid
Balbir Singh Male, age 45-46 at time of extrajudicial execution, Rasulpur
Dilbagh Singh Male, age 20 at time of extrajudicial execution, Dhun
Dilbagh Singh Male, age 31-32 at time of extrajudicial execution, Rattoke Prem Nagar
Gurnam Singh Male, age 25-26 at time of extrajudicial execution, Mari Udhoke
Harjit Singh Male, age 23 at time of extrajudicial execution, Chima Khurd
Jaspal Singh Male, age 20-21 at time of extrajudicial execution, Dhariwal
Jaswinder Singh Male, age 20-21 at time of extrajudicial execution, Khemkaran
Jaswinder Singh Male, age 16-18 at time of extrajudicial execution, Sarai Valtoha
Lakhwinder Singh Male, age 32-33 at time of extrajudicial execution, Tatle
Onkar Singh Male, age 26-27 at time of disappearance, Gharyala
Raghbir Singh Male, age 35 at time of extrajudicial execution, Puhla
Sukhwinder Singh Male, age 30-32 at time of extrajudicial execution, Chima Kalan
Tarn Taran Subdistrict
Balbir Singh Male, age 30-35 at time of extrajudicial execution, Dhun
Dalbir Singh Male, age 20-21 at time of extrajudicial execution, Panjwar Khurd
Dat Kaur Female, age 72-73 at time of extrajudicial execution, Dhotian
Dilsher Singh Male, age 26-27 at time of extrajudicial execution, Bala Chak
Jaswant Singh Male, age 35-40 at time of extrajudicial execution, Buchar Kalan
Kuldeep Singh Male, age 16 at time of disappearance, Panjwar Khurd
Narvinder Singh Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Panjwar
Poonam Kumar Male, age 18-19 at time of disappearance, Panjwar Kalan
Ram Singh Male, age 27 at time of extrajudicial execution, Pakhupura
Swaran Singh Male, age 32-33 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kambo
Swaranjit Singh Male, age 22-23 at time of extrajudicial execution, Aladinpur
Tajinder Singh Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Palasaur

Bathinda District

Bathinda Subdistrict
Gurtej Singh Male, age 24-25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Naruana
Hazura Singh Male, age 74-75 at time of extrajudicial execution, Ganga
Shingara Singh Male, age 21-22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Lehra Bega
Rampura Phul Subdistrict
Noor Muhammad Male, age 30-35 at time of disappearance, Jalal
Talwandi Sabo Subdistrict
Gurmail Singh Male, age 22-24 at time of extrajudicial execution, Pakka Kalan

Chandigarh District

Chandigarh Subdistrict
Kuljit Singh Male, age 36-37 at time of extrajudicial execution, Chandigarh

Faridkot District

Faridkot Subdistrict
Baldev Singh Male, age 45 at time of extrajudicial execution, Deep Singhwala
Jagjeet Singh Male, age 20-21 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kingra
Jagseer Singh Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kingra
Jagseer Singh Male, age 24-25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kingra
Jaswinder Singh Male, age 21 at time of extrajudicial execution, Sibbian
Pal Singh Male, age 18 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kingra
Sukhmander Singh Male, age 30 at time of extrajudicial execution, Deep Singhwala
Jaitu Subdistrict
Jaswinder Singh Male, age 24 at time of extrajudicial execution, Bish Nandi

Firozpur District

Firozpur Subdistrict
Jagtar Singh Male, age 28 at time of extrajudicial execution, Rukna Begu
Niranjan Singh Male, age 30 at time of extrajudicial execution, Sulhani
Prem Singh Male, age 30 at time of extrajudicial execution, Khai
Sukhdev Singh Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Bandala
Jalalabad Subdistrict
Gurbachan Singh Male, age 32-33 at time of extrajudicial execution, Madyake
Zira Subdistrict
Beera Singh Male, age 20 at time of extrajudicial execution, Pir Mohamad

Gurdaspur District

Batala Subdistrict
Balbir Singh Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Dhaulpur
Balwinder Singh Male, age 20 at time of extrajudicial execution, Madra
Chanan Singh Male, age 17-18 at time of extrajudicial execution, Bhole Ke
Dilbag Singh Male, age 20-25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Bolewal
Dilbagh Singh Male, age 22-23 at time of extrajudicial execution, Dharamkot
Gurnam Singh Male, age 19 at time of disappearance, Chaudhriwala
Gurpal Singh Male, age 30-32 at time of extrajudicial execution, Nangal Jhawar
Harpal Singh Male, age 18-20 at time of disappearance, Nangal
Heera Singh Male, age 18 at time of extrajudicial execution, Nangal Jhawar
Jaswant Singh Male, age 20 at time of extrajudicial execution, Madra
Lakhwinder Singh Male, age 26-27 at time of extrajudicial execution, Nangal Jhawar
Makhan Singh Male, age 22-25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Hardo Jhanda
Nirmal Singh Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Chhit
Nirvair Singh Male, age 30-35 at time of extrajudicial execution, Bolewal
Ranjeet Singh Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Damodar
Ranjit Singh Male, age 20 at time of extrajudicial execution, Talwara
Sahib Singh Male, age 18 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kastiwal
Sarabjit Singh Male, age 25-28 at time of extrajudicial execution, Ladha Munda
Shamsher Singh Male, age 24 at time of extrajudicial execution, Bahadurpur Rajoa
Shindpal Singh Male, age 23-24 at time of extrajudicial execution, Dharamkot
Sukhdev Singh Male, age 25-26 at time of extrajudicial execution, Dharamkot
Sukhpal Singh Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kala Afgana
Waryam Singh Male, age 20 at time of extrajudicial execution, Bure Nangal
Dera Baba Nanak Subdistrict
Daljit Singh Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Mohal Nangal
Gurbaksh Singh Male, age 22-23 at time of extrajudicial execution, Shikar
Ranjit Singh Male, age 25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Thetharke
Tarsem Singh Male, age 28-30 at time of extrajudicial execution, Shezada
Gurdaspur Subdistrict
Ajmer Singh Male, age 13 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kaler Khurd
Balbir Singh Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Theh Tikha
Gurmeet Singh Male, age 18-20 at time of extrajudicial execution, Saidowal Khurd
Gurmej Singh Male, age 33 at time of extrajudicial execution, Buttar Kalan
Mohinder Singh Male, age 22-23 at time of extrajudicial execution, Paswal
Pritam Singh Male, age 42 at time of extrajudicial execution, Sohal
Rajinder Singh Male, age 25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Buttar Kalan
Sukhwinder Singh Male, age 24 at time of extrajudicial execution, Devidaspur
Tehal Singh Male, age 18 at time of disappearance, Raju Bela
Pathankot Subdistrict
Avtar Singh Male, age 26 at time of extrajudicial execution, Balotar

Hoshiarpur District

Dasuya Subdistrict
Ajit Singh Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Usman Shahid
Hoshiarpur Subdistrict
Surinder Singh Male, age 20-22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kotali Bawdass
Mukerian Subdistrict
Satpal Singh Male, age 25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Chak

Jalandhar District

Jalandhar I Subdistrict
Jaswinder Singh Male, age 33 at time of disappearance, Hardo Pharala
Palwinder Singh Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, Jalandar
Sukhwinder Singh Male, age 18 at time of extrajudicial execution, Jalandhar
Jalandhar II Subdistrict
Sukhwinder Singh Male, age 26 at time of extrajudicial execution, Darapur
Nakodar Subdistrict
Gurdeep Singh Male, age 25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Haer
Phillaur Subdistrict
Joga Singh Male, age 31-32 at time of extrajudicial execution, Talwan
Kulwinder Singh Male, age 24 at time of extrajudicial execution, Chak Sahbu
Satpal Singh Male, age 29 at time of extrajudicial execution, Dalewal

Kapurthala District

Bhulath Subdistrict
Amarjit Singh Male, age 20 at time of extrajudicial execution, Begowal
Lakhbir Singh Male, age 31 at time of extrajudicial execution, Lit
Kapurthala Subdistrict
Jagwinder Singh Male, age 24 at time of disappearance, Kapurthala
Phagwara Subdistrict
Kulvaran Singh Male, age 29 at time of disappearance, Bhabiana
Mohinder Singh Male, age 52 at time of extrajudicial execution, Chaheru

Ludhiana District

Jagroan Subdistrict
Harjinder Singh Male, Galib Kalan
Ludhiana West Subdistrict
Sakater Singh Male, age 65 at time of extrajudicial execution, Pandori
Payal Subdistrict
Avtar Singh Male, age 24-25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Daumajra
Jasvir Singh Male, age 18 at time of extrajudicial execution, Maksudra
Raikot Subdistrict
Mandeep Singh Male, age 22-23 at time of extrajudicial execution, Halwara

Mansa District

Budhlada Subdistrict
Saun Singh Male, age 26 at time of extrajudicial execution, Dialpura

Moga District

Bhagha Purana Subdistrict
Chamkaur Singh Male, age 30 at time of extrajudicial execution, Rode
Jagjeet Singh Male, age 55-56 at time of extrajudicial execution, Rode
Resham Singh Male, age 25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Sangatpura
Moga Subdistrict
Gurmail Singh Male, age 30-32 at time of extrajudicial execution, Mangewala
Nihal Singhwala Subdistrict
Chamkaur Singh Male, age 28-30 at time of extrajudicial execution, Raoke Kalan

Muktsar District

Malout Subdistrict
Parkash Singh Male, age 28-30 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kutianwali
Muktsar Subdistrict
Dilbag Singh Male, age 14 at time of extrajudicial execution, Saddarwala
Rajeshinder Singh Male, age 26 at time of extrajudicial execution, Saddarwala

Nawanshahr District

Nawanshahr Subdistrict
Gurnam Singh Male, age 30-31 at time of extrajudicial execution, Rehpa
Jaswinder Singh Male, age 20-21 at time of disappearance, Hakimpur

Patiala District

Patiala Subdistrict
Ajit Singh Male, age 35 at time of disappearance, Dadhera
Angrej Singh Male, age 27-28 at time of extrajudicial execution, Sasi Brahmanan

Rupnagar District

Rupnagar Subdistrict
Balveer Singh Male, age 21 at time of disappearance, Talapur
Dewarki Kaur Female, age 87-88 at time of extrajudicial execution, Jatana
Gurmeet Singh Male, age 27-28 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kamalpur
Jasmair Kaur Female, age 45 at time of extrajudicial execution, Jatana
Manpreet Kaur Female, age 13 at time of extrajudicial execution, Jatana
Ujjagar Singh Male, age 60-65 at time of extrajudicial execution, Kamalpur
S.A.S.Nagar (Mohali) Subdistrict
Dalveer Singh Male, age 22 at time of disappearance, Behlolpur

Sangrur District

Barnala Subdistrict
Sukhsagar Singh Male, age 20 at time of disappearance, Bhila
Dhuri Subdistrict
Karnail Singh Male, age 20 at time of extrajudicial execution, Gurbaxpura
Kuldeep Singh Male, age 25 at time of extrajudicial execution, Tibba
Ranjit Singh Male, age 37-38 at time of extrajudicial execution, Jakhlan
Malerkotla Subdistrict
Gulzar Singh Male, age 18-20 at time of disappearance, Ahmadpur

Location Withheld

Anonymous Male, age 5 at time of extrajudicial execution, location withheld
Anonymous Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, location withheld
Anonymous Male, age 35 at time of disappearance, location withheld
Anonymous Male, age 22 at time of disappearance, location withheld
Anonymous Male, age 22 at time of extrajudicial execution, location withheld
Anonymous Male, age 20 at time of extrajudicial execution, location withheld
Anonymous Male, age 20-25 at time of extrajudicial execution, location withheld
Santokh Singh Male, age 36 at time of disappearance, Uttar Pradesh

Key statistics of cases directly implicating Black Cat:

Victim Demographics 

Gender

92.0% Male 172
 
 
8.0% Female 15

Marital status

61.0% Not married 114
 
 
38.5% Married 72

If married, did the victim have children?

34.2% Yes 64
 
 
2.1% No 4


Total children surviving victims: 197

Religion

98.9% Sikh 185
 
 
1.1% Non-Sikh 2

Caste

77.5% Jat 145
 
 
22.5% Non-Jat 42

Age

8.6% 0-17 16
 
73.3% 18-33 137
 
11.8% 34-49 22
 
3.7% 50-64 7
 
2.1% 65+ 4
 
0.5% Age unknown 1
 

Education

26.7% No education 50
 
13.4% Primary school 25
 
18.2% Middle school 34
 
28.3% High school 53
 
3.2% Some college 6
 
4.3% College degree 8
 
4.8% Graduate degree 9
 
1.1% Vocational degree 2
 

Employment

44.4% Farmer/agriculture 83
 
16.0% Student 30
 
9.1% Day labourer 17
 
5.9% Unemployed 11
 
4.3% Shopkeeper 8
 
3.7% Housewife 7
 
2.7% Mechanic 5
 
1.1% Driver (bus/truck/car) 2
 
0.5% Carpenter 1
 
17.1% Other 32
 

Urban / Rural

89.3% Rural 167
 
 
6.4% Urban 12

Abduction, Detention, & Torture 

Prior detentions

49.2% Yes 92
 
 
50.8% No 95

Prior torture

42.8% Yes 80
 
 
6.4% No 12

Abduction preceding enforced disappearance/extrajudicial execution

51.3% Yes 96
 
 
48.1% No 90

Security officials informed witnesses where they were taking the victim

14.5% Yes 11
 
 
93.4% No 71

Witnesses to abduction

40.6% Yes 76
 
 
4.8% No 9

Victim abduction location

18.2% Victim’s residence 34
 
6.4% Friend/relative's residence 12
 
6.4% Roadside 12
 
3.2% Village fields 6
 
2.1% Bus station/stand 4
 
1.1% Shop/market 2
 
0.5% Checkpoint (naka) 1
 
0.5% Police station 1
 
0.5% Village drain 1
 
9.1% Other 17
 

Detention facility type

Data forthcoming

Preceding detention location known

30.5% Yes 57
 
 
20.9% No 39

Witnesses to detention preceding enforced disappearance/extrajudicial execution

Data forthcoming

Security official response to victim status

14.4% Other 27
 
7.5% Gave no response 14
 
5.9% Denied involvement 11
 
4.3% Killed victim in an “encounter” 8
 
3.7% Told family to go to another police station 7
 
3.2% Admitted extrajudicial execution with no explanation 6
 
1.6% Victim killed by militants 3
 
1.1% Admitted custody only 2
 
0.5% Victim accidentally killed in custody 1
 
0.5% Victim killed by black cats 1
 

Victim presented before judge/magistrate

2.7% Yes 5
 
 
29.9% No 56

Enforced Disappearances vs. Extrajudicial Executions 

Classification

88.2% Extrajudicial executions 165
 
 
11.8% Enforced disappearances 22

Number of victims per family

69.5% 1 victim 130
 
20.3% 2 victim 38
 
3.7% 3 victim 7
 
2.7% 5 victim 5
 
3.7% 9 victim 7
 

Related incidents

4.3% Genuine encounters in family 8
 
 
95.2% No genuine encounters in family 178

Body Disposal 

Body disposal by security forces

31.0% Cremated the body 58
 
1.1% Dumped body in canal or river 2
 
0.5% Dumped body in well or drain 1
 

Security forces returned body

32.1% Yes 60
 
0.5% Yes, but forced immediate cremation 1
 
55.6% No 104
 

Condition of corpse, if known

31.6% Bullet wounds 59
 
5.3% Cuts/wounds 10
 
2.7% Broken bones 5
 
2.7% Other 5
 
2.1% Missing hair from head or face 4
 
2.1% Burn marks 4
 
1.6% Missing fingernails 3
 
1.1% Bruises 2
 

Security Forces Implicated 

Names of involved security officials known

70.1% Yes 131
 
 
9.1% No 17

Security forces uniformed

48.7% Yes 37
 
 
55.3% No 42

Type(s) of security forces involved in abduction

48.1% Black cat 90
 
34.2% Punjab Police 64
 
4.3% CRPF 8
 
0.5% BSF 1
 
0.5% Other 1
 

Type(s) of security forces involved in extrajudicial execution

62.0% Black cat 116
 
55.1% Punjab police 103
 
5.9% CRPF 11
 
3.2% Other 6
 
1.6% BSF 3
 
1.1% Criminal Investigation Agency 2
 

Militancy Involvement 

Militant status

47.6% Militant 89
 
 
50.3% Non-militant 94

Non-militant, provided support to militants

16.6% Yes 31
 
 
33.7% No 63

If provided support, support was voluntary

13.4% Yes 25
 
 
3.2% No 6

Remedies & Impact 

Approached court or commission

38.0% Yes 71
 
 
59.9% No 112

Approached security officials

35.3% Yes 66
 
 
63.1% No 118

Reason the family did not pursue any kind of action

47.6% Afraid of retaliation 89
 
13.9% Didn’t know what to do 26
 
13.4% Believed it would have been ineffective 25
 
12.8% Couldn’t afford 24
 
2.7% Not applicable 5
 
0.5% Other 1
 

Remedies desired from government

70.6% Monetary compensation to family 132
 
63.1% Truth commission 118
 
56.1% Employment 105
 
36.9% Criminal sanctions against those responsible 69
 
33.2% Public acknowledgement of wrongful deaths 62
 
31.6% Investigations into abuses 59
 
26.2% Memorial for victims 49
 
21.9% Rehabilitation services to family members 41
 
5.3% Desire nothing from government 10
 
2.7% Other 5
 

Year & District 

District

40.6% Amritsar 76
 
2.7% Bathinda 5
 
4.3% Faridkot 8
 
3.2% Firozpur 6
 
19.8% Gurdaspur 37
 
1.6% Hoshiarpur 3
 
4.3% Jalandhar 8
 
2.7% Kapurthala 5
 
2.7% Ludhiana 5
 
0.5% Mansa 1
 
2.7% Moga 5
 
1.6% Muktsar 3
 
1.1% Nawanshahr 2
 
1.1% Patiala 2
 
3.7% Rupnagar 7
 
2.7% Sangrur 5
 

Year

0.0% 1981 0
 
0.0% 1982 0
 
0.0% 1983 0
 
1.6% 1984 3
 
0.5% 1985 1
 
1.6% 1986 3
 
7.5% 1987 14
 
3.7% 1988 7
 
10.7% 1989 20
 
10.2% 1990 19
 
25.7% 1991 48
 
26.2% 1992 49
 
5.9% 1993 11
 
2.7% 1994 5
 
0.0% 1995 0
 
0.5% 1996 1
 
0.0% 1997 0
 
0.0% 1998 0
 
0.5% 1999 1
 
0.0% 2000 0
 
0.0% 2001 0
 
0.5% 2002 1
 
0.5% 2003 1
 
0.0% 2004 0
 
0.0% 2005 0
 
0.0% 2006 0
 
0.0% 2007 0
 
0.0% 2012 0
 
1.6% Date Unknown 3
 

Boundaries based on the 2001 census. Read about our methodology.