Jaipur: In a major counter-terrorism operation, a woman has been arrested by Rajasthan’s Anti-Terrorism Squad in Jaipur over alleged connections to a sleeper cell linked to the Pakistani terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Where was the woman arrested?
The Rajasthan Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a woman allegedly linked to Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) for operating as a sleeper cell in Jaipur. The arrest was made following intelligence inputs received from Military Intelligence, prompting a coordinated operation by security agencies. The woman has been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and is currently being interrogated by investigators.
What is the case?
The arrested woman, who has been identified as Babita Dhakad, also known by the alias Khadija (38), is a female sleeper cell member of the Pakistani terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed and had married Pakistani terrorist handler, named Abu-Ubaidah, online.
Abu is believed to be close to Masood Azhar, the leader of the banned terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed. According to sources, Babita admitted during interrogation that after the Pahalgam terror attack, she began reading about Pakistani terrorists on the internet.
During this time, she came into contact with Jaish handlers and was trying to set up a female sleeper cell in India.
Did the woman convert to Islam?
The officials said that Babita was arrested from her home on June 20 in a joint operation by the Rajasthan Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Army Intelligence Branch. Originally from Sawai Madhopur district, Babita lived in Jaipur with her parents and brother. She had divorced her husband about two years ago.
After coming in contact with Jaish handlers, they brainwashed Babita, after which she learned to recite Kalma from a Pakistani Maulvi.
Babita also converted to Islam and changed her name to Khadija. She also entered into an online marriage with terrorist handler Abu Ubaidah. Babita wanted to go to Pakistan and live with him.
What did the police say?
ATS Superintendent of Police Manish Tripathi said that the accused was connected to terrorist organizations through WhatsApp and other internet media platforms on her mobile phone. During interrogation and investigation, it was revealed that she was in contact with Jaish-e-Mohammed.
The report filed in this case states that Pakistani handlers had advised Babita to reach Pakistan via Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates. For this, she was trying to obtain a passport.
According to sources, during interrogation, Babita expressed no remorse for her involvement in anti-national activities. Babita is on police remand until June 27. Her mobile phone has been sent for investigation. Initial investigations by the ATS have found several suspicious Pakistani mobile numbers saved.
