Mira Road Shocker: US-Returned Man Stabs 2 Security Guards Over ‘Kalma’ Refusal; ATS Probes ‘Lone Wolf’ Terror Angle

New Delhi: In a chilling early-morning assault, a 31-year-old Mumbai native, who had returned from the US in 2019, allegedly stabbed two private security guards in Maharashtra's Mira Road’s Nayanagar area after interrogating them about their religious identity and demanding they recite the ‘Kalma’ (an Islamic declaration of faith)- a request they reportedly denied.

The assault took place around 4 am on Sunday, leading to the arrest of the suspect, Jaib Zubair Ansari, by Nayanagar police within 90 minutes. Meanwhile, given the suspicion of a ‘lone wolf’ terror plot, the case has since been handed over to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for further investigation.

How the incident took place

The crime took place when the victims (security guards), Rajkumar Mishra and Subrato Ramesh Sen, were stationed at the Asmita Grade Mission construction site behind Wockhardt Hospital when the accused approached them.

According to reports, Ansari inquired about the guards' names and religion before allegedly demanding that Mishra recite the Kalma. When the guard refused, Ansari drew a knife and launched a violent attack. After assaulting the guards, Ansari fled the scene.

Following the brutalk attack, Rajkumar Mishra sustained serious injuries in the encounter and was rushed to Wockhardt Hospital by a police team that arrived shortly after the incident. While Mishra remains under medical care in stable condition, the second guard, Subrato Sen, suffered minor injuries to his back.

CCTV helps in arrest within 90 mins

The Maharashtra Police said that the swift intervention of the Nayanagar Police, aided by CCTV footage from the crime scene, led to Ansari’s arrest within 90 minutes of the assault and a case was initially registered under Sections 109, 118(2), and 196(1) of the law.

Who was Ansari?

A former teacher who taught chemistry and mathematics at a coaching center until a few months ago, Ansari had studied in the US until 2019 before moving back to India and living alone in a rented flat in Mira Road. Sources indicate that his landlord had recently asked him to vacate the premises by May 5.

Investigators further discovered that Ansari's online history was allegedly filled with ISIS-related propaganda videos, as per reports. 

ATS joins probe

Meanwhile, the investigation is currently being spearheaded by a joint team from the Naya Nagar police and the ATS to ascertain if the assault was motivated by broader extremist or ideological ties.

Preliminary findings suggested that the accused may have been radicalised, prompting authorities to hand the case over to the Maharashtra ATS. The elite unit is now leading a thorough inquiry into the possibility of a terror angle, specifically investigating the incident as a targeted "lone wolf" attack.

In an official statement, authorities have urged the public to refrain from sharing rumors or unverified information, warning that anyone found circulating misinformation regarding the case will face legal consequences.

What CM Fadnavis said

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated on Tuesday that the suspect in the Mira Road stabbing case appears to have undergone ‘self-radicalisation,’ driven by exposure to extremist literature and online material.

Discussing the ongoing probe, Fadnavis noted that early evidence indicates the accused was motivated by jihadist ideology and specifically chose his victim based on their religious identity.

“Overall, it seems to be a case of self-radicalisation. Through books, literature and the internet, the accused radicalised himself,” the Chief Minister said, further explaining that the assault was intentionally aimed at individuals from a different community.

Fadnavis confirmed that both the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are now collaborating on the case to uncover any broader connections or similar instances of radicalization.

“Who all are behind this radicalisation, what links exist, and whether others have been radicalised in the same way will be brought out during the probe,” he stated.

According to the Chief Minister, the suspect had previously lived overseas, and while his family remains in the United States, he returned to India. After a period in Kurla, he relocated to Nayanagar, the site of the attack. Authorities are currently scrutinizing his past movements, digital activity, and personal contacts to establish if he operated as a lone wolf or was part of a wider network.
 

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