Rubaiya Sayed kidnapping case: CBI arrests Shafat Shangloo

Srinagar, Dec 1: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday arrested Shafat Ahmed Shangloo, who was wanted in a 35-year-old case relating to the kidnapping of Dr. Rubiya Sayeed, daughter of the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
In a statement, the CBI said it had arrested absconder Shafat Ahmed Shangloo, wanted in connection with the 35-year-old case of Dr. Rubiya Sayeed’s kidnapping. Dr. Sayeed is the sister of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti.
The agency further said that the accused Shangloo had conspired with Yasin Malik and others in committing the crime under various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) in 1989.
“The absconder was carrying a reward of Rs. 10 lakh on his head,” the statement reads.
He will be produced before the TADA Court Jammu, within stipulated time as per law, it further states.
On December 8, 1989, Rubaiya Sayeed, the 23-year-old daughter of India’s then Home Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, was kidnapped from Srinagar.
Rubaiya was returning home from a hospital in Srinagar when terrorists linked to the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) abducted her.
This incident took place only a few days after her father had taken charge as India’s Home Minister.
The JKLF made a major demand in exchange for Rubaiya’s release: the government must free five of their arrested militant associates.
The government came under immense pressure — it was the Home Minister’s daughter, and the situation in Kashmir was already tense.
After five days of negotiations, protests, and mounting tension, on December 13, 1989, the government agreed to the militants’ demand.
The five jailed militants were released, and in return, Rubaiya Sayeed was freed safely.
It was the first time the Indian government had released terrorists in exchange for a hostage.
Many experts later regarded this event as a turning point that further intensified militancy in Kashmir.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later took over the case and named Yasin Malik along with several others as accused.
Although the case dates back decades, legal proceedings have continued for years, with several accused remaining absconding.
The case is still being heard in the TADA court in Jammu.
In 2022, Rubaiya had identified Yasin Malik as one of her abductors in 1989. (KNO)