The arrest of a woman allegedly linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, has caused serious concern among the country’s security agencies. Babita Dhakad, alias Khadija, arrested by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), is accused of being in contact with a Pakistan-based radical network and terror handlers.
According to the facts that have emerged, the Rajasthan ATS arrested 37-year-old Babita Dhakad (alias Khadija) from the Vatika area of Jaipur based on confidential information received from Military Intelligence. Originally hailing from Sawai Madhopur district, she was living in Jaipur with her retired father.
Investigating agencies state that her mobile phone, WhatsApp chats and social media accounts reveal contacts with several foreign numbers, including those from Pakistan. Her social media network contained profiles sharing content related to Jaish-e-Mohammed and other terrorist organizations, including flags and images of armed terrorists.
RAJASTHAN ATS ARRESTS WOMAN LINKED TO JeM
♦️ Rajasthan ATS arrested Khadija alias Babita Dhakad from Vatika, Jaipur, originally a resident of Sawai Madhopur, for working as a sleeper cell of Jaish-e-Mohammad
♦️ She was converted to Islam online through a Porkistan-based Maulvi… pic.twitter.com/WKNhixUp62
— Defence News Of INDIA (@DefenceNewsOfIN) June 22, 2026
Agencies Scrutinise Digital Evidence
ATS officials stated that the woman had deleted a significant amount of data from her mobile phone. However, efforts are underway to retrieve the deleted information with the help of forensic experts. The investigation has uncovered evidence of two SIM cards, multiple social media accounts, and foreign contacts. ATS Superintendent of Police Manish Tripathi stated that agencies suspect the woman was being groomed for a terrorist organisation after being influenced by radical ideology. Plans were reportedly being made to send her to Pakistan via Nepal, Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates. Indications that certain documents and information had been sent to Pakistan have also surfaced and investigations into this matter are ongoing. Religious Conversion and Alleged Radical Network
The investigation revealed that the woman had converted to Islam online by reciting the ‘Kalma’ and had adopted the name ‘Khadija’. According to agencies, attempts had been made over the past six to seven months to influence her with radical ideology.
The probe also uncovered plans to bring her to Pakistan and allegedly arrange her marriage following contact with a Pakistan-based cleric. Efforts were made to involve her in ‘Namaz’, Quranic studies and other religious activities. Furthermore, she was found to be in contact with individuals linked to past terror incidents, including Qari Zarrar, an alleged spokesperson and commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed. Investigative agencies are examining these potential connections. Following her appearance in court, the woman has been remanded to police custody until June 27.
राजस्थान ATS की बड़ी कार्रवाई: बबीता से बनी खदीजा जयपुर से गिरफ्तार, पाकिस्तान स्थित आतंकी संगठन जैश-ए-मोहम्मद से संपर्क, मसूद अजहर के साले उस्ताद गौरी से कथित कनेक्शन, ऑनलाइन धर्म परिवर्तन और पाकिस्तान भेजने की साजिश की जांच तेज
Rajasthan ATS has arrested Babita Dhakad alias… pic.twitter.com/sZzVtx5OBE
— DEFENCE JOURNALIST SAHIL (@DefenceSahil) June 22, 2026
Women: The Emerging New Face of Terrorism
Dr Rajesh Sharma, a defense expert and retired Air Force officer, states, “This arrest in Jaipur highlights a shifting challenge facing the nation, where terrorist organizations are increasingly incorporating women as vital components of their networks. Previously, ‘jihadi’ terrorism was largely perceived as being confined to cross-border infiltration and armed attacks; however, the spread of radicalization via social media and encrypted digital platforms has accelerated rapidly. Women are playing an increasingly significant role in this process. The fact that Saeeda, the woman in question, commanded a social media network of 38,000 followers demonstrates how terrorist organizations are now leveraging ‘influencer culture.’ Essentially, this represents a new frontier where youth are gradually influenced through ideology, identity, and emotional appeals.”
Social Media Emerging as a Major Weapon
Terrorist organisations have turned social media into an effective tool for recruitment and propaganda. They are reaching out to youth and women via platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram. Data from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs indicates a rise in women’s involvement in radical modules in recent years. Globally, too, a significant number of women have been active in organizations like ISIS. While women’s roles were previously viewed as merely supportive, they are now increasingly found to be involved in recruitment, propaganda, fundraising and even the execution of terrorist activities. Consequently, security agencies are treating cases of female radicalisation with particular seriousness.
The growing role of women, especially within networks linked to Islamic jihadist organizations, is emerging as a serious threat. The arrest of Saida, a social media influencer from Hyderabad, by the Andhra Pradesh Police serves as a prime example of this new trend; it highlights how terrorism has evolved into an organized campaign driven by digital influence and psychological control.
Indeed, the allegations against Saida underscore how modern Islamic jihadist terrorist organizations target the youth, particularly women, through social media. According to investigative agencies, she was active in online networks linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), where content such as videos of Osama bin Laden and speeches by radical figures like Zakir Naik was disseminated. This entire network illustrates how terrorism is now penetrating households via digital platforms, with women becoming a crucial link in this process.
Data Points to Female Involvement in Terrorism
A look at available data and reports makes this trend even clearer. According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, there has been a steady increase in the involvement of women in radical modules apprehended in India over the past few years. A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime indicates that women have constituted between 15 and 20 percent of the membership of organizations like ISIS globally. Their roles are no longer limited to mere support functions; they have assumed strategic and operational roles in jihad, which targets non-Muslims.
Consider the case of terrorist Shamima Begum, which illustrates how even teenage girls can fall victim to online brainwashing and become part of international terror networks. Similarly, the direct participation of jihadist terrorist Tashfeen Malik in an attack in the US shattered the myth that women could only play supporting roles. Names such as Hayat Boumeddiene, Sajida al-Rishawi, Muriel Degauque, and Sally Jones highlight the vast reach and diversity of this global network.
The Growing Threat of Female Radicalisation in India
This threat appears to be gradually rising in the Indian context as well. Cases involving individuals like Afsha Jabeen, Sana Fatima, Rubina Shaikh, Nazia Ilahi and Samia Khatoon reveal a common pattern: contact established via social media, the spread of ideological radicalization, and the gradual expansion of the network, culminating in extreme hatred towards non-Muslims and the adoption of violence against them. This pattern indicates that terrorist organizations are now employing “low-profile, high-impact” strategies to evade easy detection.
What is the ‘Khawateen’ Brigade?
The plan for a ‘Khawateen’ (women’s) wing, revealed in the case of Saida, makes the entire scenario far more serious. One can imagine the level of organization involved in this effort, a scheme that included creating a specially structured organization for women, training them in the use of weapons and explosives and preparing them to carry out attacks across the country. ISIS has already successfully implemented this model through female units like the ‘Al-Khansaa Brigade,’ and this strategy is now being expanded into other regions, with digital platforms lending unprecedented speed and reach to the entire network.
Why are women easy targets for terrorists?
The strategy employed by terrorist organizations to recruit women into this network is highly calculated. Women generally attract less suspicion in society, possess greater social reach and have the ability to influence people emotionally. Consequently, they are viewed as effective instruments for recruitment, propaganda, and network expansion. This entire scenario indicates that the nature of terrorism is rapidly evolving; it is no longer confined to physical attacks but has effectively transformed into an ideological war that heavily leverages social media, psychology and social structures. Nevertheless, India has taken several measures at the security agency level to address this challenge.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has strengthened its cyber-monitoring capabilities, while the Ministry of Home Affairs has initiated de-radicalization programs. However, when comparing India’s counter-terrorism and eradication efforts with those of international agencies like the FBI, MI5 and Europol, it becomes evident that India still largely operates on a ‘reactive’ approach, whereas Western nations place greater emphasis on ‘preventive’ and ‘community-based’ models.
Ultimately, cases like that of Babita Dhakad, alias Khadija, offer merely a glimpse into this new terrorist-jihadist module. In essence, this offers a glimpse into a vast, invisible network that could pose an increasingly serious challenge to India’s internal security in the future. The case of Babita Dhakad, alias Khadija- once again makes it clear that terrorism is now spreading within society through digital channels and ideological influence. Islamic jihadist organizations are increasingly utilizing women for recruitment, propaganda and the expansion of their networks.
Insights from Books on Terrorism and Radicalisation
In this context, several significant books and research studies on terrorism and radicalisation offer valuable insights. For instance, Bruce Hoffman’s renowned book “Inside Terrorism” (Columbia University Press) clarifies that modern terrorism is not merely an instrument of violence but a form of “psychological warfare” aimed at instilling fear and confusion within society. Hoffman writes, “The success of terrorism lies far more in its impact than in the violence itself.” Similarly, the book “Leaderless Jihad” (by Marc Sageman; University of Pennsylvania Press) explains that contemporary terrorist networks have become “decentralized,” with recruitment and radicalization spreading through small cells and online networks. The case of Babita Dhakad (alias Khadija) exemplifies this “leaderless network” model, where a single individual can influence an entire network via social media.
Mia Bloom’s book “Bombshell: Women and Terrorism” (University of Pennsylvania Press) is particularly significant for the light it sheds on the role of women. Bloom notes that terrorist organizations employ women because they are perceived as “less suspicious, more effective, and socially more acceptable.” This analysis is entirely relevant to the Indian context, where women are deeply integrated into the fabric of family and society.
The question now arises: how can the Government of India and its citizens defend themselves against this emerging threat? Author Audrey Kurth Cronin offers a suggestion to all governments regarding this: in her book “How Terrorism Ends” (published by Princeton University Press), she writes that terrorism cannot be brought to an end through military action alone; rather, it is possible only through “social and ideological interventions.”
In essence, this means governments should prioritize de-radicalization programs, specifically by designing tailored initiatives for women and youth, organizing ideological outreach and demonstrating how such activities harm both their country and their own society. Furthermore, it is essential to incorporate “critical thinking” and digital literacy into the education system so that young people can recognize and identify various forms of online propaganda.
