Rajasthan ATS arrests JeM female operative Babita Dhakad in Jaipur
Synopsis
A Rajasthan woman allegedly radicalised online by Pakistani handlers and recruited into a Jaish-e-Mohammed sleeper cell was arrested in Jaipur before she could reportedly flee to Pakistan. The case exposes JeM's alleged 'Jamaat-ul-Muminat' women's wing — a targeted strategy to recruit female operatives through encrypted platforms — and reveals communication links to figures connected to the 2016 Nagrota attack and the 1999 IC-814 hijacking.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan ATS and Military Intelligence arrested Babita Dhakad of Sawai Madhopur in Jaipur on 22 June for alleged links to a Jaish-e-Mohammed sleeper cell.
The accused reportedly used the alias 'Khadija' and was allegedly in contact with Pakistani handlers via social media and encrypted messaging apps.
Forensic analysis of her devices allegedly revealed links to the network of JeM commander Qari Zarar , named in the 2016 Nagrota Army camp attack .
Investigators also allege connections to Yusuf Azhar (Gori) , a relative of JeM founder Masood Azhar and accused in the 1999 IC-814 hijacking .
Security agencies allege JeM has been running a women's wing called 'Jamaat-ul-Muminat' to recruit female sleeper-cell operatives online.
ATS teams are conducting raids across Rajasthan to identify possible local associates; investigators are probing whether sensitive information was transmitted across the border.
The Rajasthan Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), acting on intelligence inputs from Military Intelligence (MI), has arrested a woman allegedly linked to a sleeper cell of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Jaipur on 22 June. The accused, identified as Babita Dhakad — a native of Sawai Madhopur district in Rajasthan — reportedly operated under the alias 'Khadija' and is alleged to have been in contact with Pakistani terrorist handlers through social media and encrypted messaging applications.
How the Arrest Unfolded
Joint teams of Military Intelligence and the Rajasthan ATS apprehended Babita Dhakad before she could allegedly flee to Pakistan via a route reportedly arranged by her handlers. Investigators claim she had been active across Jaipur Rural, Sawai Madhopur, and areas in the vicinity of military installations. She is currently being questioned at a secure location.
According to security agencies, forensic analysis of mobile phones and digital devices recovered from the accused revealed alleged communication links to networks associated with individuals connected to major terrorist incidents.
Links to Senior JeM Figures
Investigators claim that numbers linked to the network of JeM commander Qari Zarar — named in connection with the 2016 Nagrota Army camp attack in Jammu and Kashmir — were found in the accused's contacts and communication records. Authorities also allege links to individuals associated with Yusuf Azhar, also known as Gori, a relative of JeM founder Masood Azhar. Yusuf Azhar has been accused of involvement in the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814.
JeM's Alleged Women's Wing: Jamaat-ul-Muminat
According to security agencies, the case reflects what they describe as a deliberate and recent strategy by Jaish-e-Mohammed to recruit and radicalise women through online platforms. Officials allege that the organisation has been operating a women's wing called 'Jamaat-ul-Muminat', aimed at identifying, influencing, and recruiting women and young girls as sleeper-cell operatives.
Investigators allege that Babita Dhakad came into contact with online groups promoting extremist ideology and was subjected to sustained indoctrination through anti-India propaganda material and videos by Pakistani handlers. After reportedly being radicalised, she allegedly adopted the name 'Khadija' and became an active link in the network, according to investigators.
Ongoing Investigation and Search Operations
Rajasthan Police have launched a wide-ranging investigation to identify possible local associates who may have provided logistical support, including internet access, SIM cards, or financial assistance. Authorities suspect additional individuals could be connected to the network. ATS teams are conducting searches and raids at multiple locations across the state as part of the continuing operation.
Investigators are also working to determine whether any sensitive information was transmitted across the border during the accused's alleged activities. This arrest underscores the evolving threat of online radicalisation targeting women — a pattern that security agencies say they are monitoring with increasing concern.
Point of View
And the alleged 'Jamaat-ul-Muminat' wing, if confirmed, would represent a deliberate expansion of the terror group's operational model. The claimed links to Qari Zarar and Yusuf Azhar suggest this was not a fringe contact but an allegedly active node in a senior command chain. What remains unasked in most coverage is how many similar cases have been intercepted — and how many have not.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Babita Dhakad and why was she arrested?
Babita Dhakad is a woman from Sawai Madhopur district in Rajasthan, arrested by the Rajasthan ATS and Military Intelligence on 22 June in Jaipur. She is alleged to have been an operative of a Jaish-e-Mohammed sleeper cell, reportedly radicalised online by Pakistani handlers and operating under the alias 'Khadija'.
What is Jamaat-ul-Muminat, the JeM women's wing?
According to security agencies, Jamaat-ul-Muminat is an alleged women's wing of Jaish-e-Mohammed, designed to identify, influence, and recruit women and young girls as sleeper-cell operatives through online platforms. Investigators claim Babita Dhakad was recruited through this network.
What links did investigators find on Babita Dhakad's devices?
Forensic analysis of her mobile phones and digital devices allegedly revealed communication links to the network of JeM commander Qari Zarar, named in the 2016 Nagrota Army camp attack, and to individuals associated with Yusuf Azhar, accused in the 1999 Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 hijacking.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Babita Dhakad is being questioned by joint teams of Military Intelligence and Rajasthan ATS at a secure location. Investigators are probing whether sensitive information was transmitted across the border and are conducting raids across Rajasthan to identify possible local associates.
Why does this case matter beyond the individual arrest?
Security agencies say the case highlights an evolving JeM strategy of recruiting women through social media and encrypted apps — a method harder to detect than traditional recruitment. The alleged links to senior JeM figures suggest the accused was not a peripheral contact but part of an active operational network.
