The Kashmir Valley, particular Srinagar, is burning over a social issue – prostitution, which started with the Indian Express publishing a news report revealing that the J&K police is investigating a sex racket that included top politicians, police and security force officers. According to the news story, girls, including minors, were coerced into prostitution, blackmailed and supplied to top police officials, bureaucrats, politicians, and surrendered militants. Ever since there have been hartals, processions and demonstrations by various social, and political groups, with even some militant groups lending their support.

Clearly three issues are involved in this crisis. First, the social dimension relating to prostitution and why girls are being forced into it in J&K; seconds – the governance issue, relating to failure of administrative machinery to realise the urgency of the matter; and third – a political issue relating to various groups politicising the scandal for narrow gains. An analysis of these issues is needed. Read the rest of this entry »