Mumbai: As investigations moved swiftly into the alleged ‘lone wolf’ attack on Mumbai’s Mira Road suburb involving a Muslim man, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday (April 28) said it appeared to be a case of “self-radicalisation” and ordered a full investigation into the incident.
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra police along with Mira-Bhayander Vasai-Virar police station were conducting the investigations.
The help of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also been requested.
On Monday morning, 31-year-old Jaib Zubair Ansari assaulted two security guards – Rajkumar Mishra and Subrato Ramesh Sen, who were stationed at the Asmita Grade mission construction site behind Wockhardt Hospital on Mira Road in Thane district – after asking them their religious identity and asking them to recite the kalma.
When the guards refused, Ansari pulled out a knife and began a violent attack. After attacking the guards, Ansari fled the scene.
However, the Nayanagar police station managed to nab the suspect within an hour.
Documents seized from his home had words such as ‘jihad’, ‘Gaza’ and ‘ISIS’, reports said.
The suspect is a former chemistry and maths teacher at a coaching center. Ansari had studied in the US until 2019 before returning to India and living alone in a rented apartment in the Smita Regency building on Mira Road located less than half a kilometer from the site of the incident.
Fadnavis, who is also the state’s Home Minister, ensured a thorough investigation into the incident.
“This appears to be a case of self-radicalisation. Some incriminating books and materials were recovered from the residence of the accused. He was living in the US and had returned recently,” Fadnavis told reporters in Solapur.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that he was radicalized and had a desire to attack members of the Hindu community in the name of jihad, which led him to carry out this incident,” he added.
According to Fadnavis, several agencies are looking into the case and the probe will also look beyond the accused to determine if any larger network was involved.
“The case is currently being investigated by the ATS and NIA. The state government is providing full cooperation with these agencies. The scope of the investigation will not be limited to the accused but will also investigate the individuals or networks behind his radicalization. The entire case will be thoroughly investigated to uncover any possible conspiracy,” he added.
Neighbors said they don’t know much about the person.
“I have no idea what he used to do. Not only me, nobody knows much about him. What happened is very wrong. He has done a very wrong thing,” said neighbor Gauhar Ali Khan.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya visited Mira Road and met the victims. “A jihadist tendency has been gaining ground in Maharashtra for several years now,” he said.
“In initial interrogation, he was found to be associated with terrorist organisations. The extent of his links should be probed. A repeat of the Pulwama incident should not be allowed,” Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam said.
