The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has found a note referring to "lone wolf" attacks and the Islamic State at the house of a 31-year-old man arrested for allegedly attacking two security guards after asking their religion in Thane district, news agency PTI reported, quoting officers on Tuesday.
Prima facie, the incident appears to be a "lone wolf" attack carried out by a radicalised man, who allegedly asked the guards to recite the `Kalma` before stabbing them early on Monday, an officer said.
The accused, identified as Zaib Zubair Ansari, who returned to India from the United States in 2020, allegedly asked the security guards their religion after an altercation at an under-construction building in the Mira Road area of Thane district, he said.
One of the victims claimed the accused asked both of them their religion and to recite the `Kalma`, and when they could not, he stabbed them with a knife, seriously injuring them, PTI reported, quoting the officer.
Considering the seriousness of the incident, the Maharashtra government handed over the probe to the ATS on Monday evening.
Ansari lived alone at the Smita Regency building in Naya Nagar, Mira Road, about 200 metres from the incident site, the officer said.
During a search of his residence, the ATS recovered a note referring to "lone wolf" attacks and the Islamic State, a laptop kept on a table, and three copies of the Quran, the officer added.
The accused initially asked the security guards for the address of a nearby mosque.
Both the security guards denied knowing the mosque’s address. The accused then asked whether they were Hindus and moved ahead. Within a few seconds, Ansari returned, pulled out a knife from his pocket, and allegedly attacked security guard Subrato Sen and his supervisor Rajkumar Mishra, the officer said.
While attacking, Ansari asked the supervisor whether he was also a Hindu and, if not, he should recite the `Kalma`. The accused stabbed them as they were unable to recite the `Kalma," the officer said.
After the incident on Monday, Ansari was identified on the basis of CCTV footage from the scene and apprehended within one-and-a-half hours by the Mira Bhayander–Vasai Virar Police.
The accused lived in the United States with his parents from 2000 to 2020. However, after his work permit expired, he returned to India and stayed in Kurla in Mumbai and Vashi in neighbouring Navi Mumbai for some time, the officer said.
Since 2022, he has been living alone at the Smita Regency building. His wife is Afghan, and during questioning it came to light that she left him and went to the United States, the officer said.
The Mira Bhayander–Vasai Virar region has a diverse population, including Muslim-dominated areas. In 2024, the city witnessed communal tension during a Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony rally, when more than 60 persons attacked a procession and vandalised vehicles, according to police.
(With PTI inputs)
0 Comments