LUCKNOW/KANPUR: Investigators are working diligently to conclude the investigation into a Jaish-e-Mohammed initiative that has reportedly been in development for several years. This initiative has transformed a campus physician into the so-called “Madam Surgeon” of a cross-border terrorist scheme. The individual believed to be the mastermind behind these connections is Dr. Shaheen Shahid, a 43-year-old who has been dubbed “Madam Surgeon” within the clandestine terminology of the JeM medical module, which is implicated in the car explosion in New Delhi on November 10 and is allegedly orchestrating coordinated terrorist attacks across six cities, according to investigators.
Authorities have characterized Shaheen, who was apprehended in Faridabad, as a crucial asset. The digital evidence that has been confiscated, along with handwritten journals and planning documents, now forms the backbone of the case and outlines a strategy for a December 6 attack intended to “avenge” the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992.
These documents detail the “D-6 Mission,” including target lists, recruitment strategies, financial transactions, and secure communication methods. Investigators have also pinpointed roles assigned to Kashmiri physicians Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie and Umar Un Nabi, who, along with Shaheen, are believed to have integrated into a more extensive JeM-supported framework in 2021.
The investigation has reportedly revealed a hawala network involving Rs 20 lakh, which has been funneled through a JeM operative for operational purposes by Umar, Muzammil, and Shaheen. This funding is suspected to have been utilized for recruitment efforts, safe houses, secure communication devices, and reconnaissance activities.
Agencies have initiated an audit of Shaheen’s financial activities, examining every significant transfer, cash withdrawal, and unexplained deposit across her three accounts in Kanpur, two in Lucknow, and two in Delhi. The objective: to uncover any connections to the foreign-funded module.
Teams are also reconstructing Shaheen’s movements in Kanpur, particularly at GSVM Medical College, where she was employed until her mysterious disappearance. Officials are gathering entry logs, duty rosters, visitor lists, and information regarding her accommodations from January to October 2025. Colleagues recall a soft-spoken doctor from Lucknow who seldom took leave, brought her young child to work due to a lack of childcare, and refrained from discussing her divorce. She resided in an L-Block campus residence, maintained friendly relationships with her female colleagues, and disappeared in December 2013 after transferring her HOD responsibilities, assuring her return by January 4, 2014. She never returned. For almost a year, official correspondence went unanswered. In 2016, two staff members dispatched to her registered address discovered it to be incorrect. She was officially dismissed in 2021.
Interrogations revealed that in March 2022, the module traveled to Turkiye for a meeting with ISI handler Abu Ukasha, reportedly obtaining a “green signal” for the plan set for December 6. The reconstructed timeline encompasses an ideological shift beginning in 2010, an induction into JeM circles during 2015-16, and organized planning from 2021 as part of a project supported by handlers based in Pakistan.
A former GSVM staff member recounted her transformation starting around 2010 after engaging with an Indian-origin doctor abroad who provided ideological videos and literature. She quickly adopted new clothing, including a hijab, and frequently expressed her desire to move overseas.
Officials noted that her ideological transformation was evident by 2021. When questioned by a relative about her decision to leave her marriage, job, and family, she reportedly stated: “I have lived enough for myself. Now, it’s time to repay the debt of my community.”
