KANPUR: The ex-husband of terror accused Dr Shaheen Shahid, also a doctor, said she never wore burqa while they were married and was a loving mother to their two children, and that she left the family as she wanted to move abroad.
Dr Zafar Hayat, an opthamologist at KPM Hospital in Kanpur, Wednesday said he and Shaheen had an arranged marriage in Nov 2003. Both pursued medical studies separately, and he was her senior.
“I never had any inkling that she could be involved in such activities. She was deeply attached to her family and children, loved them immensely and took care of their studies,” Hayat told reporters. Recalling their marriage, he said Shaheen was not religious and never wore a burqa, except during the wedding rituals.
Hayat said Shaheen had started pressuring him to settle abroad for a better life, but he was not ready. “One day, she suddenly left us, and we got divorced in 2012,” he said.
According to Hayat, there has been no contact between them since the divorce, nor did she make any effort to contact her children, who live with him.
“When she left, the elder child was seven-year-old and the younger was just four. Shaheen was very calm by nature and never discussed religion. She was interested in studies,” he said.
Kanpur police commissioner Raghubeer Lal said cops have spoken to Hayat and his children about Shaheen, and would share the information with the probe agencies.
Joint CP (law and order) Ashutosh told TOI that police are probing if Shaheen was in touch with any of her old contacts in Kanpur.
With more than two decades of experience, writes extensively on c...
Read MoreWith more than two decades of experience, writes extensively on crime stories. His professional portfolio extends to environmental journalism, wildlife protection initiatives and political developments. His thorough reporting on diverse social issues has contributed significantly to positive changes.
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