A wave of despair and disbelief has swept through the medical community in Jammu and Kashmir following the arrest of several doctors implicated in an inter-state terror module. The arrests, which occurred over the past three weeks, have exposed a "white-collar terror network" allegedly linked to proscribed outfits Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH).
The Jammu and Kashmir police, in coordination with law enforcement agencies in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have apprehended seven individuals, including two doctors practicing in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Adeel Ahmad Rather, who was working at a private hospital in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Dr. Muzamil Shakeel, employed at a hospital in Faridabad, Haryana, are among those arrested. A woman doctor from Lucknow, identified as Dr. Shaheen, was also arrested for her alleged involvement in the terror module. Additionally, a cleric Molvi Irfan Ahmad from South Kashmir and Zameer Ahmad Ahanger, a resident of central Kashmir, have been taken into custody.
The investigation was triggered by the appearance of pro-JeM posters in Nowgam, Srinagar, on October 19. Authorities claim the group was using encrypted channels for communication, coordination, fund movement, and logistics. The arrests have led to the recovery of a massive cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives, including approximately 2900 kg of IED-making material, from a hideout in Faridabad. This haul included ammonium nitrate, sulphur, aluminium powder, remote-control circuits, timers, a Chinese Star pistol, a Beretta handgun, and two assault rifles.
The alleged involvement of medical professionals in terrorist activities has sent shockwaves throughout the region. Investigators are probing whether the arrested doctors were involved in radicalization or were simply used for cover and logistics. One of the doctors is alleged to have rented a flat in Faridabad, which served as a storage and assembly site for IED components. Dr. Muzammil Shakeel was already on the police radar for allegedly putting up posters supporting Jaish-e-Mohammed in Srinagar.
The police said that the module is linked with the banned “terrorist organizations, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind”. Preliminary investigations suggest that the network received instructions from handlers in Pakistan through encrypted messaging platforms.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the potential misuse of professional expertise and resources for subversive activities. Security agencies are conducting a wider security review across Delhi-NCR and Jammu & Kashmir. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to uncover the full extent of the network and its connections. The incident has left the community grappling with questions about the motivations and the extent of radicalization within professional circles.
