‘Forced guard to recite Kalma’: Maharashtra’s knife-wielding ‘lone wolf’ attacker wanted to join ISIS | India News
New Delhi: A 31-year-old man is under investigation for allegedly stabbing two security guards in Maharashtra’s Thane district in what officials suspect could be a “lone wolf” terror attack.The attack took place in the early hours of April 27 near an under-construction building in the Naya Nagar area of suburban Mumbai’s Mira Road. According to the police, the accused, identified as Jabar Zubair Ansari, approached the guards on duty on the pretext of seeking instructions before returning and asked them about their religion, news agency ANI reported. Eyewitness accounts quoted by investigators claimed that he allegedly forced a guard to recite the Islamic kalama and, when he failed, attacked both with sharp weapons, ANI reported.The injured, Rajkumar Mishra and Subroto Ramesh Sen, were hospitalized with serious injuries. Mishra’s condition is critical, while Sen is undergoing treatment. Police said the attack took place after an altercation, during which Ansari first stabbed Mishra and then attacked Sen, who was nearby.Ansari was arrested within 90 minutes of the incident after being identified on CCTV footage. A case has been registered under provisions relating to attempt to murder, and the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has taken over the investigation citing the seriousness of the case and the background of the suspect.The search at Ansari’s residence raised further concerns. Investigators recovered allegedly handwritten notes in which he expressed his desire to join ISIS and described the attack as a “first step” toward that goal. Officials are also examining material found on his electronic devices, including documents and videos, to determine if he had any contact with extremist handlers or networks.According to officials, Ansari is a science graduate who spent several years in the US before returning to India in 2019. He lived alone in Mira Road, where he reportedly offered online chemistry coaching. Investigators believe his time in isolation may have contributed to online radicalization, although they are continuing to analyze his digital footprint to determine the extent of any external links.
