JAMMU: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on July 10 filed a chargesheet against six senior Hurriyat Conference leaders, including Shabir Ahmad Shah, in connection with a 1996 case involving alleged mob violence, indiscriminate firing on police personnel and anti-India activities during a funeral procession in Srinagar.
The chargesheet, filed before the NIA Special Court in Jammu, names Shabir Ahmad Shah, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Abdul Ganie Lone, Mohd Yaqoob Wakeel alias Mohd Yaqoob Vakil, Javid Ahmad Mir and Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi as accused.
In December 2025, Bakshi was arrested for his role in instigating violence against the police and personnel of other security forces. According to the FIR filed that day in Srinagar, the then SHO Shergarhi attempted to stop the mob, but they turned aggressive. Bakshi, along with ohters named in the case, is accused of provoking the crowd and violating provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Arms Act.
Around the same time, the police also arrested Javed Ahmad Mir (alias Javed Nalka), in the same case. Mir was a senior commander of terrorist organisation Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) at one time and had allegedly played a major role in several killings, including that of four Indian Air Force (IAF) men at one time. He operated in close coordination with Yasin Malik who is in Tihar jail presently.
Before joining terrorism and JKLF ranks, Javed Ahmad Mir used to work in the water works department, and hence the name Javed Nalka.
According to the NIA, all six have been charged under relevant provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), 1989, for criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, rioting and assault on public servants, along with Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The agency said proceedings against Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Abdul Ganie Lone and Mohd Yaqoob Wakeel stand abated following their deaths.
Shabir Ahmed Shah & 5 other senior Kashmiri separatist leaders of Hurriyat Conference have been chargesheeted in a 1996 case of mob violence & indiscriminate firing on police personnel in Srinagar (J&K). Accused were found to have actively instigated the violence. pic.twitter.com/2W0bpLDgwh
— NIA India (@NIA_India) July 10, 2026
It, however, maintained that the chargesheet establishes their alleged roles in the criminal conspiracy and the unlawful assembly, supported by evidence gathered during the investigation. According to the NIA, the incident occurred on July 17, 1996, during the funeral procession of slain militant Hilal Ahmad Beigh at Naaz Crossing in Srinagar.
The agency alleged that the six Hurriyat leaders jointly led the procession and instigated large-scale violence against police personnel. It claimed that armed militants had mingled with the funeral procession and opened indiscriminate fire on police, injuring several personnel, while government vehicles were extensively damaged in heavy stone-pelting.
The NIA further alleged that the accused raised anti-India, pro-Pakistan and secessionist slogans and delivered inflammatory speeches advocating armed struggle.
According to the investigation, the violence formed part of a larger, pre-planned conspiracy by the Hurriyat leadership to use the funeral procession as a platform to propagate separatist ideology. They also used it to mobilise public support against the Government of India, provoke public disorder and incite violence against law enforcement agencies while demonstrating the Hurriyat’s organisational strength in Jammu and Kashmir.
The case, registered as RC-01/2026/NIA/JMU, was originally filed at Shergarhi Police Station, Srinagar, on the day of the incident in 1996. The Ministry of Home Affairs (NIA) transferred the investigation to the NIA in April 2026.
The agency said further investigation into the case is continuing.
