NIA charges six J&K separatists in 1996 case: Srinagar violence Shabir Ahmad Shah, Geelani & Abdul Ganie Lone among accused

National Investigation Agency on Friday said it has filed charges against six senior leaders of Hurriyat Conference, including Shabir Ahmad Shah, in connection with a 1996 case of mob violence and indiscriminate firing on police in Srinagar.

The agency said that a charge sheet was filed on Friday before the NIA court in Jammu, naming Kashmiri separatist leaders Shah, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Abdul Ganie Lone, Mohd. Yaqoob Wakeel alias Mohd. Yaqoob Vakil, Javid Ahmad Mir and Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi.

NIA took over the case in April 2026 on the directives of the home ministry. The six people named have been charged under relevant provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code, 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 charges against Geelani, Lone and Wakeel stood abated as they had passed away during the pendency of the proceedings. However, the charge sheet clearly established their roles in the criminal conspiracy and the common object of the unlawful assembly, along with supporting evidence, it said.

NIA, during investigation, had ascertained that all six accused had led an unlawful assembly and instigated large-scale violence against police personnel during a funeral procession of slain terrorist Hilal Ahmad Beigh at Naaz Crossing, Srinagar, on July 17, 1996.