Faridabad: Head Of Jaish's Women Wing In India Dr. Shaheena Shahid Arrested

Dr. Shaheena Shahid, a doctor from Lucknow, has been arrested in connection with a large explosives seizure in Faridabad, near Delhi. She is accused of establishing the women's wing and recruiting for the Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), according to Delhi police sources.

Shaheena Shahid resides in Lucknow's Lal Bagh area. Her arrest followed the busting of JeM's terror module in Faridabad, where an assault rifle was found in her vehicle. She is reportedly affiliated with Al-Falah University and closely linked to Kashmiri doctor Muzammil Ganaie, also known as Musaib.

JeM's Women's Wing

The women's wing of JeM, called Jamaat ul-Mominaat, was formed under the leadership of Sadia Azhar, sister of JeM founder Masood Azhar. Sadia's husband, Yusuf Azhar, was involved in the Kandahar hijacking and reportedly died during Operation Sindoor on May 7.

Muzammil Ganaie hails from Koil in Pulwama, J-K. He worked at Al Falah University in Dhauj, about 45 km from Delhi. His arrest came after J-K Police identified him as wanted for putting up posters supporting JeM in Srinagar.

Explosives Discovery

The investigation revealed that a Maruti Suzuki Swift car used to store weapons belonged to Shaheena Shahid. The car's number starts with Faridabad's code HR 51. Muzammil's interrogation led police to discover 350 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate and other suspicious items from rented premises.

In October, JeM announced its first-ever women's wing named Jamaat-ul-Mominaat to revive its presence in India post-Operation Sindoor. Recruitment began on October 8 at Markaz Usman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

Recruitment Efforts

The new unit is reportedly led by Sadiya Azhar and recruits include wives of JeM commanders and economically vulnerable women studying at centres across Bahawalpur, Karachi, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Haripur, and Mansehra.

This development highlights the ongoing efforts by JeM to strengthen its network despite setbacks from Indian operations. The involvement of women marks a new strategy for the group.