A 31-year-old man has been apprehended for a violent attack on two security guards in Mumbai’s Naya Nagar area. The man, identified as Zaib Zuber Ansari, allegedly targeted the guards at an under-construction site near Wockhardt Hospital. He reportedly demanded that they recite the Kalma, a significant Islamic declaration, before assaulting them with a knife.
The victims, Rajkumar Mishra and Subroto Sen, sustained severe injuries during the assault and were promptly taken to a nearby hospital for medical care. Mishra managed to reach the hospital independently despite his injuries, while Sen received assistance from a local resident named Nayab Sheikh.
Following the attack, police swiftly reviewed CCTV footage to identify the suspect. Ansari was arrested within about 90 minutes of the incident and taken to Naya Nagar Police Station. Charges related to attempted murder and inciting communal discord were filed against him.
After his arrest, Ansari appeared in a Thane court and was remanded to police custody until May 4. The investigation is being conducted by local authorities in collaboration with the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Officials are examining electronic devices seized from Ansari to ascertain if the incident was an isolated event or part of a broader scheme.
Authorities have disclosed that Ansari resided in the United States for a period and that his family members still live there. Facing job challenges in the US, he returned to India and lived alone in the Mira Road area, where he engaged in online chemistry classes for income. Investigators suspect that online radicalization material influenced his actions.
