J&K Man Freed a Day After CBI Arrest in 35-Year-Old Rubaiyya Sayeed Kidnapping Case

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A special court in Jammu has released Shafat Ahmad Shangloo, a suspected associate of separatist leader Yasin Malik, who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the 1989 kidnapping of Rubaiyya Sayeed, the daughter of former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. The court, rejecting the CBI's plea for custody, noted that Shangloo's name was not mentioned in the agency's charge sheet. The 35-year-old case revolves around the kidnapping of Rubaiyya, who was a resident rotatory internship trainee at Lal Ded Hospital in Srinagar at the time. She was released after five days in exchange for the release of five terrorists. Rubaiyya, now a prosecution witness, had identified Yasin Malik and four others as involved in the crime during court hearings. Malik is serving a life sentence in Tihar jail for a terror-funding case. Shangloo, who carried a ₹10 lakh reward, was arrested from Srinagar's Nishant area with the help of the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Public Prosecutor SK Bhat stated that the court saw the charge sheet, which mentioned that there was no evidence against Shangloo, leading to his release. Shangloo's lawyer, Sohail Dar, added that his client was given the benefit of Section 169 of the CrPC, which allows the release of an accused if there's no evidence against them. The CBI had alleged that Shangloo conspired with Yasin Malik and others to commit the crime, but the court's decision has cleared his name. The case is a significant one, with Rubaiyya's kidnapping being a major incident in Jammu and Kashmir's history.