JeM operative Dr Shaheen Shahid drew 19 women into extremism – all untraceable now

Dr Shaheena Shahid

Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), central intelligence agencies, and local police have launched a large, coordinated search for 19 women from Kanpur and nearby districts who were allegedly in contact with arrested Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative Dr Shaheen Shahid.

According to the officials, these women may have been radicalised or strongly influenced by Dr Shaheen’s speeches, which investigators say were provocative, persuasive, and aimed at vulnerable individuals, TOI reported.

The ATS expanded its search after recovering significant digital evidence, including voice notes, videos, contact lists, and follow-up messages. As per the investigators, these materials indicate that Dr Shaheen had created a structured outreach network, especially targeting women who were isolated, unemployed, or experiencing emotional or personal difficulties.

Many of the 19 women have now switched off their phones, making it difficult for investigators to track them. Teams are currently using address verification, mobile tower dumps, bank transactions, and other digital footprints to locate them. "We will soon identify these women. Once they are examined, Dr Shaheen's full operation and support channels will come to light," a senior officer privy to the investigation was quoted by TOI as saying.

Investigators also believe Dr Shaheen used her identity as a woman to make other women feel safe, gradually exposing them to radical content and extremist ideology.

Faculty members from Kanpur medical colleges said she often wore a hijab while teaching, despite repeated instructions to follow the institution’s dress code. A senior professor said discussions about attire and identity frequently turned into arguments.

Dr Shaheen’s academic record shows she studied in Lucknow, cleared CPMT with strong scores, and joined Motilal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj, for MBBS in 1996. She completed her internship in 2002 and later earned an MD in pharmacology.

She worked as an assistant professor at GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, after being selected through UPPSC in 2006-07. She was transferred to Kannauj Medical College in 2009–10 and returned to Kanpur in 2010.

Her career allegedly involved frequent unexplained absences and sudden foreign trips, leading to warnings and disciplinary actions. Her services were finally terminated in 2021.