US-Returned Man Arrested After Brutal Knife Attack on Two Security Guards in Mira Road; Terror Angle Probed
A US-returned man was arrested after stabbing two security guards in Mira Road, Mumbai, in a suspected religiously motivated attack. With one victim critical, the Anti-Terrorism Squad is probing possible lone-wolf terror links following the recovery of extremist material.
The accused, Zaib Zubair Ansari, was apprehended within 90 minutes of the assault, which took place at approximately 4:00 am at an under-construction building located behind Wockhardt Hospital. The victims, identified as Rajkumar Mishra and Subroto Ramesh Sen, sustained severe injuries and were immediately admitted to the hospital. Mishra remains in critical condition, while Sen continues to receive medical treatment.
According to police officials, the attack followed an altercation between Ansari and the two guards. While the precise cause of the dispute has not been officially disclosed, sources cited in media reports indicated that the accused allegedly demanded that the guards recite an Islamic declaration of faith, suggesting a possible religious motive behind the violence.
A case has been registered at the Naya Nagar Police Station, with charges including attempted murder and promoting enmity between different groups. Ansari was subsequently produced before a local court in Thane, which remanded him to police custody until May 4.
The gravity of the case intensified after the Anti-Terrorism Squad assumed control of the investigation, citing the accused’s background and the nature of evidence recovered. Authorities reportedly found incriminating documents and digital content on Ansari’s mobile phone, including references to extremist ideologies and keywords such as “ISIS,” “Gaza,” “jihad,” and “lone wolf.”
Security agencies are now examining whether the accused was in the process of planning a lone-wolf attack. Investigative teams have already conducted detailed interrogations in Mira Road and carried out a search operation at Ansari’s residence.
Originally from Mumbai’s Kurla area, Ansari had traveled to the United States for higher education before returning to India in 2019. His international exposure and the material recovered have added a critical dimension to the ongoing probe.
The incident has raised alarm over potential radicalization and isolated extremist threats within urban centers, prompting heightened vigilance among law enforcement agencies as the investigation continues to unfold.

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