Radicalized Man Stabs Security Guards in Mumbai; ATS Probes ISIS Links

Mumbai (IANS): Police have detained 31-year-old Zaib Zuber Ansari in connection with a violent knife attack on two security guards in Mumbai’s Naya Nagar area. Authorities are investigating the incident as a potential “lone wolf” attack after the suspect allegedly questioned the victims’ religious identity before stabbing them.

The Assault and Swift Arrest

Early Monday morning, around 4:00 AM, Ansari approached guards Rajkumar Mishra and Subroto Sen at an under-construction building near Wockhardt Hospital. Police report that Ansari demanded the men recite the Kalma (an Islamic declaration of faith) before launching a sudden assault.

The victims sustained serious injuries. Mishra reached a nearby hospital independently, while a local resident, Nayab Sheikh, rescued Sen from a guard booth and transported him to the police station and hospital. Following a review of CCTV footage, Naya Nagar police apprehended Ansari within 90 minutes. A Thane court has remanded him to police custody until May 4.

ATS Joins Radicalization Probe

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has joined the local police to determine if the attack was an isolated act or part of a larger conspiracy. During a search of Ansari’s residence and electronic devices, investigators discovered notes referencing “ISIS,” “lone wolf,” “jihad,” and “Gaza.”

Preliminary findings suggest several key details about the suspect:

• Foreign Ties: Ansari previously lived in the United States for several years, where his family still resides.
• Employment Struggles: He reportedly returned to India after failing to secure a job in the U.S. and was earning a living through online chemistry classes.
• Online Radicalization: Authorities believe he self-radicalized through extremist material found online while living alone in Mira Road.

The police have registered a case against Ansari for attempted murder and promoting enmity between different communities.