A 31-year-old man has been arrested in Mumbai for allegedly attacking two security guards after questioning them about their religion in what investigators are now probing as a possible “lone wolf” attack.
The accused, identified as Zaib Zuber Ansari, was taken into custody shortly after the incident in the Naya Nagar area of Mira Road in the early hours of Monday.
Attack After Questioning Religion
According to police, the incident took place around 4 am near an under-construction building behind a hospital. Ansari allegedly approached the guards, Rajkumar Mishra and Subroto Sen, first asking for directions before questioning their religion.
Investigators said he then demanded that the guards recite the Islamic kalma. When they failed to do so, he allegedly attacked them with a sharp weapon.
Both victims sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment. Mishra reportedly reached the hospital on his own, while Sen was helped by a local resident who rushed him to safety.
Arrest Within 90 Minutes
Police tracked down the accused within 90 minutes using CCTV footage from the area. He was taken to the Naya Nagar police station, where a case was registered under charges including attempted murder and promoting enmity between groups.
He was later produced before a court in Thane and remanded to police custody till May 4.
ATS Probing ‘Lone Wolf’ Terror Angle
The case is now being investigated jointly by the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which is examining whether the attack was part of a larger conspiracy or an isolated act.
During a search of Ansari’s residence, officials reportedly recovered handwritten notes referring to extremist themes, including mentions of “jihad” and “Gaza.” Sources said the accused had expressed a desire to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, and described the attack as a “first step” towards that goal.
Authorities are also analysing his mobile phone, laptop, and online activity to determine if he had any contact with extremist networks.
Background of the Accused
Investigators said that Ansari is a science graduate who had lived in the United States for several years before returning to India in 2019 after failing to secure employment.
He was reportedly living alone in the Mira Road area and earning a livelihood by conducting online chemistry classes. Officials suspect that he may have been radicalised through online content during this period of isolation.
