As the J&K sex scandal case resurfaced with last week’s drama in the Assembly, THE SUNDAY EXPRESS tracks down Sabina, the kingpin in the case, whose statement still haunts the political elite of the state

Inside a dingy residential colony set up to rehabilitate Dal Lake’s boat men, a three-storied house, rough-cast and painted parrot green, stands out. A black iron gate opens into the house that few people know belongs to Sabina, the kingpin of the infamous Srinagar sex abuse scandal of 2006.

Three years after a ring of prostitution that Sabina ran—from a downtown locality, under official patronage—was busted, she has relegated herself to obscurity. She has changed her name to Mehnaz and covers her face whenever she goes out of her home. Sources reveal her contact with an Islamist women’s group, soon after her release from jail, was responsible for this change.

When the Srinagar sex abuse scandal surfaced in 2006, exposing official patronage and the involvement of top politicians, bureaucrats, police and security force officers, Sabina’s house at Habakadal was the first target of public rage. The house lies in ruins even today.

Sabina was soon behind bars. And when she was released from jail, she went into anonymity. It was a year and a half ago that Sabina shifted to this new locality and built her new house, almost identical in design to her Habakadal residence.

At Sabina’s new house, a knock at the door brought a teenager out. “Is Sabina there?” He went back into the house and Sabina’s husband, Abdul Hameed Bulla, came out. “No, you can’t talk to her,” he said. “Sorry, leave this place,” he ordered.

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