Lucknow / Faridabad: The father of Dr Shaheen, a Lucknow-based woman doctor arrested in connection with the Faridabad explosives and arms seizure case, expressed disbelief over her alleged involvement, saying he “could not imagine” that she would ever engage in such activities.
Speaking to IANS on Tuesday, Syed Ahmad Ansari, her father, said his daughter hails from Daliganj, Lucknow, and was currently working in Faridabad. Dr Shaheen was arrested on Monday following a major crackdown on what police described as a suspected terror module operating near Delhi.
“My eldest son, Shoaib, lives with me. My daughter, Shaheen Syed, was arrested yesterday. She studied medicine in Allahabad. My younger son, Parvez Ansari, whose house was raided this morning, left the city long ago,” Ansari said.
“I cannot believe that my daughter was involved in such activities,” he added, visibly distressed.
Family Distances Themselves from the Case
Ansari said Shaheen had been living separately for the last one and a half years and that he last spoke to her about a month ago.
“She was married to a man from Maharashtra and worked in Faridabad. I had no idea about her arrest until the police came. I speak to my younger son Parvez almost every week, but we never discussed anything beyond general well-being,” he said.
He also confirmed that both Shaheen and Parvez had pursued medical studies.
“After marriage, Parvez settled with his wife in Saharanpur,” Ansari said.
Explosives Haul and Expanding Police Probe
According to officials, Dr Shaheen is reportedly associated with Al-Falah University and had close ties with Dr Muzammil, a Kashmiri doctor arrested after 2,900 kg of explosives and inflammable materials were recovered from his two rented rooms in Faridabad.
Following Muzammil’s interrogation, the police recovered a Swift car allegedly owned by a woman doctor working at Al-Falah Hospital, and a Kalashnikov assault rifle was found in the vehicle.
On Tuesday, Haryana DGP O.P. Singh said multiple raids were being carried out across the state, including at Al-Falah Medical College and Hospital, after the seizure of large quantities of arms, ammunition, and explosive materials linked to the suspected terror network.
“Raids are ongoing across the Al-Falah University campus, and several individuals connected to the module are being questioned,” Singh said.
Police sources confirmed that over 52 individuals, including faculty members, students, and the principal of the medical college, have been interrogated in connection with the case.
Explosion Near Delhi’s Red Fort Adds to Security Concerns
This major development follows a blast near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station on Monday, where a Haryana-registered Hyundai i20 exploded near Gate No. 1, killing at least eight people and injuring dozens.
Investigators are probing possible links between the Faridabad explosives case and the Red Fort blast. Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have joined the probe.
Sources said NIA and ATS teams also visited Dr Shaheen’s family home in Lucknow on Tuesday to question her relatives and verify any possible connections to the wider network.
Background and Continuing Investigation
The Faridabad explosives case has triggered a massive state-wide investigation into potential terror links, with authorities describing it as one of the largest explosives seizures in recent years.
Officials said the recovery included 2,900 kg of highly inflammable materials, detonators, and other items suggesting preparation for large-scale attacks. Preliminary findings indicate that the network may have links across multiple states, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.
As the probe widens, the arrests of medical professionals like Dr Muzammil and Dr Shaheen have raised concerns about possible radicalisation networks in educational institutions.