Kashmir closes to protest sex scandal

Kashmiris dismantle the house of an alleged pimp Sabeena in Srinagar yesterday. A day-long strike to force the government to reveal the names of people caught up in a sex scandal paralysed Kashmir. Police last month unearthed a prostitution racket allegedly involving more than 40 young women serving politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen in the state. PHOTO: AFP

Hundreds of protesters hanging out of car windows and riding motorbikes drove through Srinagar chanting "Punish the culprits" and "Islam's writ will run in Kashmir."

Thousands of people also attacked the house of a woman accused by neighbours of organising the prostitution ring, set fire to furniture, clothing and appliances and tore down part of the building.

Police last month unearthed the alleged racket involving over 40 women whose clients included politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen in the conservative Muslim-majority state where a separatist revolt is raging.

Religious and separatist leaders along with newspaper editorials have been demanding that the client list be made public along with the names of two women and one man arrested.