In a major breakthrough in one of India’s most politically sensitive criminal cases, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Shafat Ahmed Shangloo, an alleged conspirator in the 1989 kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of the then Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The arrest comes more than three decades after the incident shook the nation and marked a turning point in Kashmir’s insurgency landscape. The CBI confirmed on Monday that Shangloo had been tracing law enforcement for 35 years before finally being apprehended.

According to the agency, Shangloo was not only involved in the planning and execution of the kidnapping, but was also a close associate of Yasin Malik, the chief of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), who is already an accused in the same case. Malik, currently lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, has been charged under several provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for his alleged central role in the abduction.

The CBI’s spokesperson issued a detailed statement noting that Shangloo had been on the agency’s list of most-wanted absconders and carried a reward of ₹10 lakh for information leading to his capture. He was finally arrested from the Nishant area of Srinagar, with support from the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Officials have said that Shangloo will be produced before a special court in Jammu, where proceedings related to the 1989 case are already underway.

The arrest has revived public memory of one of the most consequential kidnappings in modern Indian history. On December 8, 1989, 23-year-old Rubaiya Sayeed, who was then a trainee doctor at Srinagar’s Lal Ded Hospital, was abducted on her way back home. CBI investigations later revealed that the kidnapping had been meticulously planned. Shangloo, Malik, and other JKLF operatives met at the residence of Mushtaq Ahmed Lone and finalized their strategy. They allegedly borrowed a blue car from a local resident, Ghulam Mohammad, and divided themselves into smaller groups to execute the abduction.

The plan involved coordinating at the hospital gate and waiting for Rubaiya’s vehicle. When she arrived, her van was forced to stop. Malik, investigators allege, pointed her out to his accomplices to ensure correct identification. She was then taken from her vehicle and forcibly made to board another car. For five days, she remained in captivity at undisclosed locations while negotiations unfolded at the highest levels of the Indian government.

The abduction ultimately led to the release of five jailed JKLF militants, marking one of the first major concessions by the Indian government during the early phase of the insurgency in Kashmir. The incident significantly emboldened militant activity in the region, and many analysts consider the kidnapping a pivotal moment in the trajectory of separatist militancy.

Rubaiya Sayeed has since been listed as a key prosecution witness in the case. During court hearings, she identified four individuals, including Yasin Malik, as participants in the kidnapping. Her testimony marked one of the most critical developments in the renewed legal scrutiny of the incident three decades later. Rubaiya, who currently resides in Tamil Nadu, is expected to continue cooperating with the court as the case progresses.

Shangloo’s alleged role extended beyond operational involvement. According to CBI officials, he worked as an office bearer within the JKLF and handled financial matters for the group. This placed him in a position of influence within the organization, and investigators believe he helped facilitate logistics and planning for militant operations during that period. His association with Yasin Malik, who has faced multiple cases related to terrorism and separatist violence, is expected to be a significant component of the prosecution’s argument.

The arrest comes at a time when several older terrorism-related cases in Kashmir have gained renewed judicial momentum. Yasin Malik, who has already been convicted in a separate terror funding case, is serving a life sentence. His involvement in the Rubaiya Sayeed case has further intensified legal scrutiny of his activities during the late 1980s and early 1990s. With Shangloo now in custody, the CBI is likely to strengthen its case with additional testimonies and evidence that had remained inaccessible while he was absconding.

This development has also prompted political reactions, particularly within Kashmir, where memories of the turbulent late 1980s remain deeply etched. The kidnapping took place merely days after Mufti Mohammad Sayeed assumed office as India’s Home Minister, and the concessions made to secure Rubaiya’s release were widely debated. The episode marked a dramatic escalation of separatist militancy and remains one of the most controversial security decisions taken by the Indian state.

The CBI’s efforts to revive and pursue cases dating back several decades highlight the government’s commitment to addressing long-standing terrorism cases that shaped the early phase of militancy in Kashmir. Officials have reiterated that justice must be served irrespective of the passage of time, especially in cases involving national security, the rule of law, and acts of violent extremism.

As the legal proceedings continue, the focus will shift to the testimony of witnesses and co-accused, as well as the documents and intelligence reports gathered over the years. Shangloo’s arrest is expected to add significant depth to the prosecution’s narrative, given his close association with JKLF leadership and his alleged direct participation in the kidnapping.

For the Sayeed family, the arrest marks another reminder of the traumatic events of 1989. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who later served twice as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, often spoke about the emotional toll the incident took on them. Yet, he remained committed to navigating difficult political transitions in the region. The kidnapping of his daughter remains a defining chapter in his political and personal journey.

With the arrest of Shafat Ahmed Shangloo after 35 long years, the case has entered a crucial new phase. The upcoming court proceedings will determine not only the legal outcome for the accused but also contribute to a larger historical reckoning with the early years of the insurgency in Kashmir. The CBI has signaled its determination to pursue justice to its fullest extent, and Shangloo’s capture is being viewed as an important step in closing a long-pending chapter in one of India’s most significant terror-related cases.