Dr. Shaheen Shahid, a former lecturer at a medical college, was arrested in Faridabad last week by investigators who have dubbed her a significant figure in a 'white-collar' terror module connected to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Officials claim that Dr. Shaheen's primary role was to establish and lead a women's wing for JeM in India, operating under a new female recruitment network known as Jamaat-ul-Momineen.
Initial investigations indicate that Dr. Shaheen was working towards creating a women-led radicalization and recruitment network within India. Authorities believe that Sadia Azhar, the sister of JeM founder Masood Azhar, directly assigned her to this task. Sadia, who leads the women’s wing in Pakistan, is linked by marriage to Yusuf Azhar, a key figure in the 1999 Kandahar hijacking saga, who was recently killed in an operation.
Dr. Shaheen allegedly used covert social media channels to stay in touch with JeM handlers across the border, aiming to expand the recruitment base of the militant outfit by mobilizing sympathizers within India. Her arrest followed the detention of fellow medical professionals Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganai and Dr. Umar U Nabi, who were both part of a terror network uncovered after a tragic car blast in Delhi that resulted in multiple casualties.
The investigation into this network gained traction in mid-October when Jaish-e-Mohammed propaganda materials appeared in Srinagar. Following a series of arrests, Dr. Muzammil's capture in Faridabad revealed crucial information about Dr. Shaheen’s involvement with JeM’s female operatives.
Shortly after discovering evidence of extremist activities, including a significant cache of explosives and an AK-47 rifle during the raid, authorities took Dr. Shaheen into custody. Allegations suggest that she utilized her medical profession and connections within her field to perform logistical operations for the terror module.
In the wake of her arrest, a joint operation was conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and local law enforcement at Dr. Shaheen's familial residence in Lucknow, where several items indicative of extremist connections were seized, including mobile devices and documents. Dr. Parvez Ansari, her brother, has also been apprehended for questioning.
Dr. Shaheen, who joined Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Medical College in 2006 and later worked briefly at another medical institution, reportedly went on unauthorized leave in 2013 and eventually was terminated from her position in 2021. Many colleagues expressed shock over her alleged involvement in such activities, as she had previously maintained a disciplined and quiet demeanor.
Having divorced her husband Zafar Hayat in 2015, Dr. Shaheen was rumored to have aligned herself with individuals entangled in extremist activities. Investigators uncovered connections that hinted at her active logistical role within the module, including her vehicle being tied to weapon caches. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has since taken charge of the ongoing investigation, examining all aspects of Dr. Shaheen's life to uncover the depth of her alleged affiliations.