Two days after The Indian Express exposed a sex scandal in the state allegedly involving politicians, police and security officers, Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig today sought a CBI probe or a judicial inquiry for impartial investigations.
‘‘The CM should order a CBI or a judicial inquiry... people meeting me have expressed apprehensions that the case may be covered up as police officers and politicians are involved,’’ Beig said. The demand came even as J-K police took the 15-year-old victim, who was instrumental in bringing the racket in the open, into safe custody after she received death threats. The girl had spoken to a national television channel and said that she had been forcibly filmed.
Beig said that he had advised the DGP to ‘‘forget that police or politicians are involved,’’ and not cover up the case.’’
The police have launched a manhunt for Meraj-ud-din, one of the main associates of the alleged kingpin of the racket, Sabina. Meraj-ud-din’s father and his brother are already in police custody.
Meanwhile, the separatist Dukhtaran-i-Millat has threatened to move court if the government failed to reveal the names of politicians and top officials allegedly involved in the racket. ‘‘The government should instantly reveal the names of officials involved,’’ Dukhtaran chief Asiya Andrabi said at a hurriedly called press conference here. ‘‘If the government fails to do so, we will move court. We will file a PIL. We will expose all the people involved.’’
Andrabi, a hardliner, who was arrested last year under the Public Safety Act for raiding what she called ‘‘prostitution centres’’ in Srinagar, said the outfit would launch an agitation if the government released Sabina, who had been arrested and released earlier.
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