Another Kashmiri minor girl in CBI custody in sex racket case

Srinagar, Jul 4 (UNI) The CBI has taken into the protective custody one more minor girl, alleged to have been sexually exploited by top politicians, bureaucrats and police officials, according to a local media report here.

Greater Kashmir, a leading English daily from here, said the victim aged between 14-15 years was picked up by the CBI from her residence in a downtown locality three days ago after Sabeena, the kingpin of the sex racket, divulged her name during interrogation.

The minor victim was put to questioning and examination to confirm her and Sabeena's statements, the report said, adding the number of victims taken in custody by the CBI so far has reached 24.

The newspaper said some of the victims were initially suspected to be suffering from AIDS which on intensive testing proved wrong.

However, the girls have been declared suffering from various Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and put on treatment, it said, adding the CBI has provided a female inspector for the victims.

The report, quoting highly-placed sources, said the sex scandal was being monitored by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, both of whom were determined to take the investigations into the racket to its logical conclusion.

Sabeena has started cooperating with the CBI and was spilling beans since the day she created a scene during her last appearance in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, it added.

She had reportedly threatened to expose many faces involved in the scandal before the CJM, Srinagar who asked her to make a statement on the next date of hearing.

The newspaper said many top politicians, bureaucrats, police and paramilitary officers were likely to fall in the CBI net after Sabeena makes her statement before the CJM, Srinagar.

The report also said the CBI raided a district hospital in search of a lady doctor who had been performing DNCs of the victims.

''She is wanted to help the CBI in establishing cases of the sexual abuse of the victims who were induced into the flesh trade after promising jobs or coerced into prostitution after being drugged and filmed in nude. Their tormentors used Alprozolam and Corax brand of expectorant containing substances that apart from inducing drowsiness caused addiction,'' it said.

UNI AG AK HT1725