Authorities have arrested eight individuals, including three doctors, in an investigation related to an inter-state terror module, specifically linked to the organizations Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. The arrests follow the seizure of 2,900 kg of explosives in Faridabad, raising concerns over potential terrorist activities. One of the key suspects, Dr. Shaheen Sayeed, is believed to have joined a newly formed women's recruitment wing of JeM. Her ex-husband and father expressed disbelief over her alleged connections to terrorism. Dr. Hayat Zafar, her former husband, stated that during their nine-year marriage, there were no signs of any issues and he was unaware of her dangerous affiliations. After their divorce in 2015, Dr. Sayeed moved to Haryana and took up a teaching position at Al-Falah University in Faridabad.
Investigations suggest that during her time in Haryana, Dr. Sayeed may have been exposed to extremist elements, potentially leading to her involvement in the terror network. Authorities claim that she is linked to a newly formed women's group called Jamaat-ul-Mominaat, which was established to recruit women for various roles within the terror organization. There are suspicions that she was in communication with handlers based in Pakistan and was tasked with recruiting women for both logistic and propaganda purposes.
Following her arrest, authorities conducted coordinated raids in Lucknow at properties associated with Dr. Sayeed's family, recovering digital devices and documents that are now under forensic scrutiny. Neighbors and family members describe the Sayeed family as peaceful and law-abiding, underscoring the shock surrounding these allegations. Statements from her brother and neighbors reveal a community grappling with the news surrounding Dr. Sayeed's arrest, as they maintain that they had never suspected any wrongdoing.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has since taken over the investigation into the related Delhi bombing, noted to have utilized the same type of explosives found in Faridabad. Authorities remain committed to uncovering the full extent of the network and any further individuals involved. As the investigation continues, the community, while shocked, hopes for clarity in the unfolding narrative surrounding the terror module and the individuals implicated.