Kanpur's Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial (GSVM) Medical College has taken the step of removing Dr. Shaheen Saeed's name from the pharmacology department's board. This decision comes in the wake of Dr. Shaheen's name surfacing during the ongoing investigation into the Delhi blast case. The college administration has stated that this action is a precautionary measure to avoid any potential misidentification or reputational damage to the institution.
Dr. Shaheen Siddiqui (also known as Shaheen Shahid) had a notable association with GSVM Medical College. She joined the institution in 2006 as a lecturer in the pharmacology department, a position she secured through the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) examination. Between 2009 and 2010, she was temporarily assigned to the Government Medical College in Kannauj for six months. She served as the Head of the Department of Pharmacology from September 1, 2012, to December 31, 2013. However, in 2013, she abruptly left the college without any prior notice. This unauthorized absence led to an investigation, and in 2021, the government officially dismissed her from her position.
Recent developments have linked Dr. Shaheen to a terror module, with allegations that she was tasked with establishing and leading the Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) women's wing in India. Reports suggest she was in contact with Sadiya Azhar, the sister of Jaish chief Masood Azhar, and was building a women's terror group under the organization Jamaat-ul-Mominaat. She is also allegedly the girlfriend of Dr. Muzammil, who was also arrested in connection with the Faridabad terror plot. Authorities suspect her of using her medical credentials and professional network to evade suspicion and aid the module's logistical operations.
Following Dr. Shaheen's arrest, teams from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) have visited the GSVM Medical College campus to gather records and details about her tenure. Investigators have seized official records to verify her past postings, attendance, and contact trail.
Dr. Shaheen's personal life has also come under scrutiny. She was previously married to Dr. Zafar Hayat, an ophthalmologist working at KPM Hospital in Kanpur. They had an arranged marriage in 2003 and divorced in 2015. According to Dr. Hayat, Shaheen had expressed a desire to settle in Europe or Australia after their marriage. He described her as a composed individual, deeply engaged in her studies and not involved in religious or ideological fanaticism during their marriage.
The case has sparked widespread concern and raises questions about radicalization pathways, especially involving individuals who outwardly lead conventional lives. Former colleagues at GSVM recalled that Shaheen worked diligently for about three years before developing professional differences with a senior colleague. Some residents and colleagues described her as quiet, polite, and deeply private. The investigation is ongoing, and legal proceedings are expected to unfold as authorities gather further evidence.
