Religious Angle Emerges In Mumbai Stabbing As ATS Probes Suspected Radical Links
Mumbai police and anti-terror agencies are investigating a shocking knife attack in which a 31-year-old US-returned man allegedly stabbed two security guards after questioning them about their religion and asking whether they could recite the Kalima, the Islamic declaration of faith.
The accused, identified as Jaib Ansari, was arrested shortly after the incident, which has now triggered a wider probe into possible extremist motivations behind the assault.
Officials say the case is being treated seriously due to the suspected religious angle and the accused’s alleged online exposure to radical propaganda.
US Returnee Lived Alone In Mira Road, Was Under Eviction Notice
According to investigators, Ansari had been living alone in a rented apartment in Mira Road after returning from the United States in 2019, where he had reportedly been pursuing studies.
Sources revealed that his parents are currently settled in the US, while Ansari had been staying in Mumbai independently.
Police sources also said his landlord had recently asked him to vacate the rented premises by May 5, a development investigators are now examining as part of the broader inquiry into his recent behaviour.
Accused Was Teaching At Coaching Centre Before Quitting Months Ago
Investigators have learned that Ansari had been working as a Chemistry and Mathematics teacher at a coaching institute until around three to four months ago, after which he reportedly stopped teaching.
Authorities are now trying to determine whether there were behavioural changes in the months leading up to the attack.
Officials say his recent activities, movements, and digital footprint are under close examination as they attempt to understand the motive behind the violent act.
Guards Were Allegedly Attacked After Failing To Recite Kalima
The stabbing incident occurred in the early hours of Monday near an under-construction building where security guards Rajkumar Mishra and Subroto Sen were on duty.
According to preliminary findings, the accused allegedly approached the guards, asked for their names and religion, and then questioned whether they could recite the Kalima.
When the guards said they could not, Ansari allegedly pulled out a knife and attacked both men, leaving them critically injured.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community due to the nature of the questioning that preceded the attack.
Arrested Within 90 Minutes As CCTV Leads Police To Suspect
Mumbai police launched an immediate manhunt after the stabbing and arrested Ansari within 90 minutes by tracing CCTV footage from the area.
The swift arrest helped prevent the accused from fleeing, and investigators quickly seized his mobile phone and personal belongings for forensic examination.
The rapid response has now enabled anti-terror investigators to piece together his recent actions and possible motivations.
ISIS Content Found On Phone, “Lone Wolf” Angle Under Scanner
During the initial investigation, officials reportedly found videos and documents linked to ISIS-related propaganda on Ansari’s mobile phone.
Security agencies are now probing whether he had been radicalised online and whether the attack was intended as an isolated extremist act.
Investigators are specifically examining the possibility of a “lone wolf” attack, where an individual acts independently after being influenced by extremist ideology without direct operational support from any terror group.
The discovery of suspected extremist material has significantly escalated the seriousness of the case.
One Guard Critical As ATS Expands Investigation
Officials confirmed that Rajkumar Mishra remains in critical condition, while Subroto Sen is also undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in the attack.
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has now taken over the investigation and is examining the accused’s ideological influences, online networks, and recent activities.
Authorities believe the interrogation and forensic analysis of digital evidence will be crucial in determining whether the attack was part of a broader radicalisation pattern or an isolated act of violence.
