The BRICS TimesMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that Zaib Zubair Ansari who stabbed two security guards in Mira Road was self-radicalized. Fadnavis said the accused had intended to target Hindus. The ATS and NIA are now jointly probing the case.
A Pre-Dawn Attack That Shook Mira Road
A disturbing knife attack unfolded in Mumbai’s Mira Road suburb and what seemed like a random crime has now taken on a far more sinister shape. Around 4 am on April 27, 2026, two security guards were stabbed near Asmita Grand Mansion in the Naya Nagar area. The accused 31-year-old Zaib Zubair Ansari was arrested within 90 minutes of the assault.
The two victims, Rajkumar Mishra and Subroto Ramesh Sen, were rushed to Wockhardt Hospital for treatment. Mishra’s condition remains critical while Sen is reported to be stable but still under medical care.
CM Fadnavis Confirms Radicalization Angle
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the attack directly leaving little room for doubt about the ideological motive. “Preliminary investigations have revealed that he was radicalised and had a desire to attack members of the Hindu community in the name of jihad, which led him to carry out this incident,” Fadnavis said.
The CM also revealed that damaging material including books and handwritten notes was recovered from Ansari’s residence. He stressed that the investigation would go well beyond just the accused. “The scope of the investigation will not be limited to the accused, but it will also investigate the individuals or networks behind his radicalisation. The entire case will be thoroughly investigated to uncover any possible conspiracy,” Fadnavis added.
How the Attack Unfolded
Ansari approached the two on-duty security guards at the under-construction building behind Wockhardt Hospital. He initially asked them for directions to a nearby mosque then briefly walked away. A short while later, he returned and confronted them.
He questioned one of the guards about his religion then demanded that the guard recite the Islamic declaration of faith, known as the Kalma. When the guard failed to do so, Ansari attacked both men with a sharp-edged weapon injuring them seriously. Charges filed at Naya Nagar Police Station include attempted murder and promoting enmity between religious groups. Ansari has been remanded to custody until May 4, 2026.
US-Returned Accused Lived Alone, Watched ISIS Content
Ansari’s background reveals a troubling trajectory one shaped by years of isolation. A science graduate originally from Mumbai’s Kurla area, Ansari had spent close to nineteen years living in the United States. He returned to India in 2019 and had since been living alone in a rented flat in Mira Road.
Until a few months ago, he reportedly taught chemistry and mathematics at a local coaching centre. Investigators discovered that his landlord had asked him to vacate the flat by May 5. During their search of his home, police recovered handwritten notes referencing “ISIS,” “lone wolf,” “Jihad,” and “Gaza.” One particularly chilling note reportedly read: “LONE WOLVES WILL POUNCE ON YOU, You mushrikeen will see…” The notes also described the stabbing as his “first step” towards formally joining a terrorist organisation.
Online activity on his devices allegedly showed repeated viewing of ISIS-linked propaganda videos. Officials believe the combination of prolonged isolation and unfiltered internet exposure may have triggered his radicalization.
ATS, NIA Launch Joint Probe
The gravity of the case prompted swift action from multiple agencies. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad has taken over the investigation and the National Investigation Agency has also been roped in. “The case is currently being investigated by the Anti-Terrorism Squad and the National Investigation Agency, and the state government is providing full cooperation to these agencies,” CM Fadnavis confirmed.
Investigators are now analyzing Ansari’s complete digital footprint mobile records, browsing history, and any communication links to radical networks abroad. Security in the Mira Road area has been tightened as a precautionary measure. While no confirmed link to an organized terror network exists at this stage officials are leaving no angle unexplored. “At this stage, nothing can be ruled out. We are verifying all possible motives behind the attack,” a senior official said.
