Lucknow Doctor Arrested for Leading Jaish-e-Mohammed Women's Wing in India

Dr. Shaheena Shahid, a woman doctor from Lucknow, has been arrested in connection with a major explosives seizure in Faridabad near Delhi. According to Delhi Police sources, she was assigned to establish the women's wing of the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in India.

Dr. Shahid was given responsibility for the India branch of JeM's women's wing, Jamaat ul-Mominaat, which is headed in Pakistan by Sadia Azhar, sister of JeM founder Masood Azhar.

Sadia Azhar's husband, Yusuf Azhar, was a key planner in the Kandahar hijacking and was reportedly killed during Operation Sindoor on May 7.

Dr. Shahid is a resident of Lucknow's Lal Bagh. Her arrest came after authorities busted a JeM terror module in Faridabad, with an assault rifle recovered from her vehicle.

She is reportedly affiliated with Al-Falah University and closely linked to Kashmiri doctor Muzammil Ganaie, also known as Musaib, who was arrested after authorities discovered 2,900 kg of explosives and flammable materials in his two rented rooms in Faridabad.

Muzammil, originally from Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, worked as a doctor at Al Falah University in Dhauj, approximately 45 km from Delhi. His arrest came after J-K Police identified him as wanted in connection with pro-JeM posters in Srinagar.

Investigators discovered that a car used to store an assault rifle, a pistol, and ammunition belonged to Dr. Shahid. The Maruti Suzuki Swift with Faridabad registration (HR 51) was searched following Muzammil's interrogation.

His information also led police to discover a substantial cache of suspected ammonium nitrate explosive material, 20 timers, and other suspicious items.

JeM, which suffered significant setbacks during India's Operation Sindoor, has reportedly intensified efforts to rebuild its presence, including in India, and announced the formation of its first women's wing, Jamaat-ul-Mominaat, in October.

According to reports, recruitment for this new unit began on October 8 at Markaz Usman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

Sadiya Azhar heads this group, which is reportedly recruiting wives of JeM commanders and economically vulnerable women studying at its centers in Bahawalpur, Karachi, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Haripur, and Mansehra.