Devendra Fadnavis said the accused in the Mira Road stabbing case appeared to have undergone “self-radicalisation,” pointing to his exposure to online content, books, and extremist literature as key influences. He stated that the nature of the attack suggested a jihadist motive, with the accused allegedly targeting individuals from a different religion. Given the seriousness of the case, both the Anti-Terrorism Squad and the National Investigation Agency have joined the investigation to examine possible ideological links and any wider network behind the incident.
According to investigators, the accused, Jaib Zubair Ansari, allegedly approached two security guards near an under-construction site in Mira Road East during the early hours of Sunday and questioned them about their religion. When they were unable to respond as he expected, he reportedly attacked them with a knife. One victim, Rajkumar Mishra, suffered serious injuries, including internal damage, while the other, Subroto Sen, sustained relatively minor injuries and managed to escape to safety.
Police acted quickly after the incident, tracking the accused through CCTV footage and arresting him within about 90 minutes of his residence in the Naya Nagar area. Authorities have since focused on analysing his digital footprint, including material recovered from his phone, which reportedly indicates repeated exposure to ISIS-related propaganda. Investigators are assessing whether he acted entirely alone or if external influences were contributing to his radicalisation.
Further details suggest that the accused had previously spent several years in the United States before returning to India in 2019. After his return, he lived alone in Mumbai’s Mira Road area and had worked as a teacher at a coaching centre before discontinuing his job a few months before the attack. Officials have emphasised that the investigation is ongoing and have cautioned against spreading unverified information, noting that conclusions about motive, affiliations, and possible links will depend on evidence gathered during the probe.
