The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has sealed the residence of Zaib Zubair Ansari, the individual arrested for stabbing two security guards in Mira Road, and is analyzing materials seized from the premises, an official confirmed on Tuesday.
Attack Details
The incident occurred at an under-construction site located less than 200 meters from Ansari's home. According to the police complaint filed by victim Subroto Sen, Ansari first approached him around 3 a.m. on Monday, asking for directions to a local mosque. After Sen provided the address, Ansari inquired if he knew the mosque's name. When Sen replied negatively, Ansari asked, "Are you a Hindu?" Sen affirmed, and Ansari left.
Ansari returned around 4:30 a.m., seized Sen's right hand, and said, "You are a Hindu, correct?" before pulling out a knife. Sen attempted to evade the attack but was stabbed in the back. He managed to escape and ran into the cabin of supervisor guard Mishra, but Ansari followed.
"He asked Mishra, 'Tu bhi Hindu hain na?' ('You too are a Hindu, aren't you?') and then demanded he recite the 'kalma.' When Mishra could not, Ansari stabbed him in the stomach," Sen stated in the First Information Report (FIR).
Arrest and Investigation
Police identified Ansari using CCTV footage and apprehended him within an hour of the attack. Local residents rushed both guards to the hospital. One resident, speaking anonymously, said, "The guards were terrified and asking for help. We took them to the cops and then to the hospital."
The ATS has registered a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 109 (attempted murder), 196(1) (promoting enmity between different groups), and 118(2) (causing grievous hurt with weapons), as per a press note issued on Tuesday.
Background of the Suspect
Ansari completed his graduation in biology while living in the United States with his parents, who continue to reside there. He was married to a US citizen of Indian origin but is now divorced. Police stated that he conducted online classes in mathematics, chemistry, and English for students based in Abu Dhabi.
A staff member at the Mira Road society where Ansari lived noted that he rarely interacted with others, saying, "He never opened the door. Sometimes his garbage would be left outside."
The term 'lone wolf attack' refers to a terrorist act carried out by an individual without organizational support. In a similar incident in April 2025, terrorists targeting tourists in Pahalgam allegedly asked a victim to recite the 'kalma' before shooting him.
