Srinagar, Dec 30 : A National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar city, on Tuesday, issued a proclamation notice against the former Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) President, Mubeen Shah, and two others in a 2020 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case against them, the central agency officials said.

The NIA court asked them to appear before the court on January 31, 2026.

Officials said that the court has directed accused Mubeen Shah, Azizul Hassan Ashai and Rifat Wani to present themselves before it on January 31 or face stringent action including attachment of property under CrPC Section 83.

Officials added that the case was registered under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity or hatred between different groups) and Section 505 (statements conducing public mischief) of the IPC and Section 13 of the UAPA.

"The Counter Intelligence Kashmir registered the case on the basis of credible intelligence inputs revealing a well-orchestrated conspiracy by unscrupulous anti-social and anti-national elements operating at the behest of secessionist forces within and outside the Valley."

"Investigation has exposed that these elements were masquerading as news portals, journalists and freelancers, while in reality weaponising social media platforms such as Facebook, X, and WhatsApp to create, upload and circulate fake, motivated, exaggerated, secessionist and out-of-context content."

"The deliberate objective of this digital misinformation campaign was to incite street violence, disrupt normal life, damage public property, disturb public order and fuel mass unrest thereby promoting anti-national sentiments and advancing a secessionist agenda aimed at creating disaffection against the Union of India."

"The accused were found to be actively propagating content prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, spreading false and fabricated narratives with the clear intent of instigating disaffection against the Union of India," Officials said.

"Warrants of arrest were issued against the accused persons, who went underground and are absconding to evade the process of law. Taking serious note of their deliberate evasion, the court has now issued a proclamation under Section 82 CrPC, directing the accused to appear before it on or before January 31, 2026."

"Failure to comply will invite stringent proceedings under Section 83 CrPC, including attachment of property."

"Despite being declared absconders, the accused are notorious for their continued hostile activities and remain highly active on social media platforms, where they persist in peddling false, fabricated and provocative content with the intention of inciting large-scale violence and destabilising public order in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir," Officials added.

The three accused persons belonging to Kashmir are now based in the US and Germany.

They have been booked for allegedly weaponising social media platforms to incite street violence, disrupt normal life, damage public property, disturb public order and fuel mass unrest.

/IANS