A complete shutdown coupled with violent protest demonstrations crippled life across the Valley on Friday, as mobs ransacked two houses and gutted the household goods in Srinagar's Habbakadal locality. The mob also clashed with the police when the later tried to intervene and stop the protestors from resorting to violence. Six persons, including four policemen, were injured the clash.
The shutdown was called by the Valley's business community, Traders and Manufacturers Association, against a sex scandal allegedly involving several former ministers, police officers and influential businessmen. Several political outfits including Tehreek-e-Hurriyat of Syed Ali Geelani, Dakhtaran-e-Millat, Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamiat-e-Ahle-Hadees supported the shutdown call.
The sex scandal was cracked by the police on March 18 with the arrest of around a dozen persons in Srinagar. However, distribution of a pornographic CD involving local girls and boys, last week, stirred up the scandal once again.
Statement by one of the "CD girls", who claimed several senior politicians (two of them former ministers), three senior superintendents of police, seven DSP and some influential businessmen were also involved in the sex racket, further aggravated the tension. Hundreds of people took out protest demonstrations allover Srinagar on Friday. A mob attacked the house of one Sabina, who is allegedly the king-pin of the sex racket, and set the household goods on fire.
They also broke the windows and doors of the house. Sabina was arrested by the police last week. The house of the girl (who is in the CD) was also not spared. She and her family members fled to escape mob fury.
{{/usCountry}}They also broke the windows and doors of the house. Sabina was arrested by the police last week. The house of the girl (who is in the CD) was also not spared. She and her family members fled to escape mob fury.
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