Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, spoke to the press on Tuesday regarding the stabbing incident that took place in Mira Road. Fadnavis referred to the event as a blatant example of “self-radicalization”. As per Fadnavis, the 31-year-old perpetrator was under the sway of extremist ideologies and literature online which led him to attack people from another religion on a jihadist mission.
The investigation has now been escalated, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) joining the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) to uncover the broader context of the crime. Fadnavis emphasised that the probe will look beyond the immediate act to identify any underlying networks or similar radicalisation efforts, stating, "Who all are behind this, what links exist, and whether others have been radicalised in a similar manner will come out during the investigation."
The accused, identified as Jaib Zubair Ansari, allegedly attacked two security guards, Rajkumar Mishra and Subroto Sen, in the early hours of Sunday near a construction site in Mira Road East. The assault reportedly began when Ansari questioned the men about their religion and asked if they could recite the Kalma; when they were unable to do so, he allegedly stabbed them. Mishra remains in a serious condition with internal injuries, while Sen managed to find cover after suffering less severe wounds.
Ansari’s background is now under intense scrutiny. Having lived in the United States until 2019, he returned to India while his family remained abroad. Before moving to the Naya Nagar area of Mira Road, the accused stayed in Kurla and had been working as a tutor for Chemistry and Mathematics until a few months ago. His landlord had recently served him notice to vacate his flat by early May.
Police tracked Ansari down via CCTV footage and apprehended him within 90 minutes of the attack. Early findings suggest he was a frequent consumer of ISIS propaganda, and investigators are currently scouring his mobile phone for videos and documents that might confirm if he was acting as a "lone wolf". Given the sensitivity of the religious angle, the police have issued a stern warning against the spread of rumours, noting that legal action will be taken against anyone circulating misinformation.
Also read: Mumbai man stabs guards after asking them to recite ‘Kalma’
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