'Forced guard to recite kalma': Maharashtra's knife-wielding 'lone wolf' attacker wanted to join ISIS

NEW DELHI: A 31-year-old man accused of stabbing two security guards in Maharashtra’s Thane district is under investigation for what officials suspect could be a “lone wolf” terror attack.The attack took place in the early hours of April 27 near an under-construction building in the Naya Nagar area of Mira Road, a suburb of Mumbai. According to police, the accused, identified as Jabar Zubair Ansari, approached the guards on duty under the pretext of asking for directions before returning and questioning them about their religion, news agency ANI reported.Eyewitness accounts cited by investigators claim that he allegedly forced one of the guards to recite the Islamic Kalma and, when he failed, attacked both men with a sharp-edged weapon, ANI reported.The victims, Rajkumar Mishra and Subroto Ramesh Sen, sustained serious injuries and were rushed to hospital. Mishra remains in critical condition, while Sen is undergoing treatment. Police said the assault unfolded after an altercation, during which Ansari first stabbed Mishra and then attacked Sen, who was nearby.Ansari was arrested within 90 minutes of the incident after being identified through CCTV footage. A case has been registered under provisions related to attempted murder, and the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has taken over the investigation, citing the seriousness of the case and the suspect’s background.Searches at Ansari’s residence have raised further concerns. Investigators reportedly recovered handwritten notes in which he expressed a desire to join ISIS and described the attack as a “first step” towards that goal. Officials are also examining material found on his electronic devices, including documents and videos, to determine whether he had any contact with extremist handlers or networks.According to officials, Ansari is a science graduate who spent several years in the United States before returning to India in 2019. He had been living alone in Mira Road, where he reportedly offered online chemistry coaching. Investigators believe his period of isolation may have contributed to online radicalisation, though they are continuing to analyse his digital footprint to establish the extent of any external links.