Alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) sleeper cell member Babita Dhakad, also known as Khadija, appeared in a Jaipur court after a seven-day Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) remand and was then placed in judicial custody. Investigators revealed that she had been in contact with JeM operatives for about two years and was suspected of being groomed for potential terrorist activities. Babita, arrested by the Rajasthan ATS from Jaipur’s Vatika area, is under scrutiny for allegedly planning a suicide attack and attempting to leave India for Pakistan without proper travel documents.
After completing her custodial interrogation, Babita was presented before the Court of the Additional Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate, where she was remanded to judicial custody. The prosecution has filed a case against her under Sections 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The investigation, which includes examining her social media accounts, digital devices, and call records, remains sensitive due to national security concerns. Authorities are also looking into her online activities, including alleged training by Pakistan-based handlers to establish contact with Indian Army personnel.
The probe indicates that Babita was being trained online to use social media as part of a honey-trap strategy. It was found that she did not possess an Indian passport and was allegedly planning to use the “donkey route” to reach Pakistan. During a forensic examination of her mobile phone, investigators discovered a Facebook account under the name “Duniya Dhokhebaaz” with over 300 foreign contacts, including individuals in Pakistan. The Rajasthan ATS, in collaboration with central intelligence agencies, is tracing the digital footprint of the network to identify potential sleeper cells or local connections.
