NIA To File Chargesheet Against Separatist Leader Shabir Shah In 1996 Violence Case | Exclusive
NIA To File Chargesheet Against Separatist Leader Shabir Shah In 1996 Violence Case | Exclusive Reported By, Last Updated: July 10, 2026, 11:14 IST The
NIA To File Chargesheet Against Separatist Leader Shabir Shah In 1996 Violence Case | Exclusive Reported By, Last Updated: July 10, 2026, 11:14 IST The case relates to violence during the funeral procession of a terrorist killed in a 1996 encounter in Srinagar. Rapid Read Shabir Shah was arrested in connection with the case in April 2026 after he was granted bail in separate terror-funding cases being investigated by the NIA. (PTI Photo) The Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to file a chargesheet against prominent Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah in connection with a nearly three-decade-old case involving mob violence and an attack on police personnel in Srinagar, CNN-News18 has learnt. The chargesheet will be filed on Friday before the Special NIA Court in Jammu in connection with the violence that broke out during the funeral procession of a terrorist killed in an encounter in July 1996. Shah, who is associated with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, has been named as the primary accused in the case.
A total of six people have been named in the chargesheet. Three of the co-accused have since died, according to sources. Violence During Terrorist’s Funeral Procession The case relates to an incident on July 17, 1996, when a funeral procession was taken out for terrorist Hilal Ahmad Beigh, who had been killed in an encounter with security forces at Parimpora in Srinagar. According to the investigation, a mob allegedly led by Hurriyat activists carried Beigh’s body during the procession and raised anti-India slogans. The mob allegedly resorted to stone-pelting, damaged public property and attacked police personnel. A case was subsequently registered at the Shergarhi Police Station in Srinagar. Investigators have alleged that the violence was part of a conspiracy by Hurriyat leaders to incite unrest during the funeral procession. Charges Under UAPA, Arms Act The accused have been charged under several provisions of the erstwhile Ranbir Penal Code, including Sections 147 and 148 relating to rioting, Section 336 for endangering human life, Section 341 for wrongful restraint, Section 307 for attempt to murder, Section 332 for causing hurt to deter a public servant from discharging duty, and Section 427 for causing damage.
The case also includes Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which deals with punishment for unlawful activities, along with relevant provisions of the Arms Act. The NIA took over and re-registered the long-pending case as RC-01/2026/NIA/JMU for further investigation. Shabir Shah Arrested In April Shabir Shah was arrested in connection with the case in April 2026 after he was granted bail in separate terror-funding cases being investigated by the NIA. The chargesheet seeks to establish the alleged role of Shah and other Hurriyat leaders in mobilising the procession and instigating violence against police personnel. Sources said the filing was part of the agency’s efforts to pursue long-pending cases involving separatist-linked violence and attacks on security forces, even in instances where several accused have died over the years. The agency is also seeking to hold senior organisers accountable for their alleged role in mobilising crowds, carrying the bodies of slain terrorists and using funeral processions to fuel unrest in the Kashmir Valley.
The BriefWire