Mumbai: A 31-year-old man, who stabbed two security guards in Mumbai after allegedly asking them their religion, is being probed for what officials suspect to be a “lone wolf” terror attack. According to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), during a raid at the accused Zaib Zuber Ansari’s home, the investigation team found handwritten notes in which he expressed his desire to join the terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
In these notes, Ansari described the attack in Mumbai’s Mira Road locality as his “first step” towards joining a terrorist organisation, sources in the Maharashtra ATS told a news agency.
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Sources claimed words like ‘jihad’ and ‘Gaza’ were also found scribbled in notes written by Ansari.
Investigators also found that Ansari was a science graduate and had lived in the United States for several years. Unable to find a job in the US, he returned to India in 2019 and lived alone in Mira Road, providing online chemistry coaching.
Investigators believed that during his isolation, the accused became radicalised through the internet, sources said. Agencies are now examining the digital footprints of his mobile phone and laptop to determine if he was in direct contact with any handlers across the border.
The ‘Lone Wolf’ attack
The attack took place on Monday morning near an under-construction building in the Naya Nagar area of Mira Road, a suburb of Mumbai. According to police, the accused Ansari approached the two guards on duty under the pretext of asking for directions.
Eyewitnesses told police that the accused first asked the guards for directions and then returned to ask their religion. Ansari also allegedly forced one of the guards to recite a Kalma or Kalima (Islamic verses), and when he failed, he attacked the guards with a sharp-edged weapon.
The victims, Rajkumar Mishra and Subroto Ramesh Sen, sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. Mishra remains in critical condition.
Ansari was arrested within 90 minutes of the incident after being identified through CCTV footage. A case has been registered against him under provisions related to attempted murder, with Maharashtra ATS taking over the probe.
According to victim Subroto Ramesh Sen, he was stationed on the main roadside, guarding an under-construction building when, around 3:00 am, the accused approached him and began asking about a nearby mosque.
During the conversation, the man suddenly asked, “Are you a Hindu?” Sen replied in the affirmative, after which the man walked away but continued to linger in the vicinity.
About an hour later—around 4:00 am—when Sen went to a nearby Iranian tea stall to have some tea, he spotted the same individual again. After he returned to his post around 4:30 am, the accused again approached him and grabbed his hand while asking, “You are a Hindu, aren’t you?”. He then proceeded to attack him with a knife.
CM Devendra Fadnavis reacts
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reacted to the incident, saying that the scope of investigation will not be limited to the accused, but it will also investigate individuals or networks behind it.
“This appears to be a case of self-radicalisation. Some books and incriminating material were recovered from the accused’s residence. He lived in the United States and had recently returned. Preliminary investigations have revealed that he was radicalised and had a desire to attack members of the Hindu community in the name of jihad, which led him to carry out this incident.” Fadnavis said.
“The case is currently being investigated by the Anti-Terrorism Squad and the National Investigation Agency and the state government is providing full cooperation to these agencies. The scope of the investigation will not be limited to the accused, but it will also investigate the individuals or networks behind his radicalisation. The entire case will be thoroughly investigated to uncover any possible conspiracy,” he added.
