Babita Dhakad Alias Khadija: Who Is The Rajasthan Woman Arrested For Jaish-e-Mohammed Links?

Last Updated:June 23, 2026, 06:40 IST

From Sawai Madhopur to a JeM sleeper cell in Jaipur: How Babita Dhakad was allegedly groomed online, converted, and prepped to travel to Pakistan via third countries.

Rajasthan’s Anti-Terrorism Squad has arrested a woman from Jaipur for alleged links to Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed. Babita Dhakad, a native of Gangapur in Rajasthan, was reportedly radicalised online by JeM-linked handlers and converted to Islam over a phone call by a Pakistan-based cleric — earning her a new name: Khadija.

ATS arrested Babita under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, after intelligence inputs from military intelligence flagged her suspicious digital activity.

She has been remanded to ATS custody until June 27. Two SIM cards and a mobile phone were seized from her; investigators say she had already deleted much of her digital data before her arrest, but forensic recovery is underway.

A Phone Call That Changed Everything — Literally

According to sources, Babita’s radicalisation began through social media, where JeM-linked foreign handlers allegedly contacted her and gradually drew her into extremist ideology.

The alleged conversion happened in April this year, when a Pakistan-based cleric reportedly administered the Kalma over a phone call — after which she began identifying as Khadija. The conversion, investigators say, was the culmination of months of online grooming by handlers believed to be connected to the terror group.

What Did Her Phone Reveal?

A preliminary examination of her seized mobile revealed two active SIM cards and a Facebook account containing objectionable content, links to foreign profiles, and imagery associated with armed militants.

Her friends list reportedly included profiles displaying flags and content linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and other outfits. Her WhatsApp contact list contained multiple Pakistani and other foreign numbers, some of which investigators believe may be connected to individuals involved in terror activities.

Was She Operating As A Sleeper Cell?

Sources say Babita had been living in Jaipur for some time and was allegedly functioning as a sleeper cell for JeM’s network. Her handlers were reportedly planning to bring her to Pakistan — via Nepal, Saudi Arabia, or the UAE — and had allegedly arranged cryptocurrency-based funding to cover travel and other expenses.

These claims are yet to be officially confirmed; agencies say a clearer picture will emerge once the investigation concludes.

What Does ATS Say?

Rajasthan ATS SP Manish Tripathi confirmed the arrest, saying: “We took action after finding evidence of her links to banned organisations involved in anti-national activities.

She has deleted most of her digital data, but we will try to recover it. The name of Jaish-e-Mohammed has come up in this case." He added that Babita is currently in seven-day remand custody for questioning.

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