On April 27, 2026, at around 4 am, a construction site in Mira Bhayandar’s Naya Nagar, became the scene of a violent and deeply unsettling attack.
The incident took place at an under-construction building near Asmita Enclave, behind Wockhardt Hospital in Mira Road. Two security guards on night duty were stabbed in what initially appeared to be a sudden altercation, but has now evolved into a case raising serious concerns of Islamic radicalisation.
The accused, identified as Zaib Zubair Ansari, confronted one of the guards, Rajkumar Mishra. What started as a verbal exchange escalated rapidly into a heated argument, and within moments, turned into a knife attack.
Mishra was stabbed first. When another guard, Subroto Ramesh Sen, tried to intervene, he too was attacked.
Both men were rushed to hospital. Mishra’s condition was reported to be critical, while Sen remains under treatment and is said to be stable.
Religion at the centre of the attack
What sets this case apart from a routine assault is what investigators believe triggered the violence.
According to initial findings and later corroborated in the FIR, the accused questioned the guards about their religion and demanded that they recite the Kalma.
When the victims failed to comply, the situation escalated into a brutal attack.
This sequence, questioning identity, demanding religious recitation, and then attacking, has drawn parallels with targeted, faith-based violence that happened last year in Pahalgam. Investigators are now examining whether this was a planned act or driven by deeper ideological motivations.
What does the FIR say?
Subroto Ramesh Sen, one of the injured guards, registered an FIR (No. 161/2026) at Nayanagar Police Station on April 28, 2026. The accused has been booked under Sections 109, 118(2), and 196(1), and his residence has been sealed.
Sen’s statement provides a chilling, minute-by-minute account of the events.
He is 31 years old and is a security guard and a dance teacher by profession. He stated that he had been living there since November 2025, working both as a dance teacher at Shriram International School, Kashimira, and as a night-shift security guard at Asmita Grand Mansion since March 28, 2026.
He described the night of the incident: “On 26/04/2026, as usual, I visited Asmita Grade Mansion… I was working as a security guard at around 08.00 pm… along with Supervisor Rajkeshar Mishra and other guards.”
The first interaction with the accused happened hours before the attack: “On 27/04/2026, at around 03.00 pm, an unknown person came to me and asked me, is there a mosque ahead? I told him, ‘Yes, there is a mosque on the right side.’ He asked me what is the name of the mosque. I told him, ‘I don’t know.’ He asked me again, ‘Are you a Hindu?’ I told him, ‘Yes.’ After that, the man left.”
The same individual returned later.
“At around 04.00 in the morning, I went to the Irani tea stall near Rasaj Cinema… the person who asked me the question also appeared there.”
Soon after Sen returned to duty, the attack began: “He came to my side and, asking, ‘Are you a Hindu?’, grabbed my right hand and stabbed me with the knife… When I tried to dodge the attack, the knife hit me on the back.”
In panic, Sen ran towards the supervisor’s cabin: “I somehow escaped from his grip and ran towards the supervisor’s cabin… While I was telling him what had happened, the person who attacked me reached there.”
What followed next is among the most chilling parts of the FIR: “He started saying to Supervisor Mishra, ‘Are you also a Hindu?’ or ‘If not, then recite the Kalma.’”
Sen continued: “At that time, Mishra could not recite the Kalma… I got scared and ran away and hid behind the building.”
After a few minutes, he returned, “Mishra was crying and telling me that I was going to die… I came to know that the attacker had also stabbed him after asking his religion.”
A video of the said attack is also getting viral on social media.
THE MOMENT MUMBAI’S “KALMA” KNIFER SPREAD TERROR.
Radicalized Zubair Ansari caught on camera attacking guards in Mumbai because they couldn’t recite the Kalma. Shocking details in F.I.R. filed by the police brings back echoes of Pahalgam. pic.twitter.com/HKDwOmNFD1
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) April 28, 2026
Recovery of ISIS-linked material
As investigators searched the accused’s residence, the case took a far more serious turn.
Sources revealed that notes and materials containing references to “ISIS”, “lone wolf”, “Jihad”, and “Gaza” were recovered.
Among the writings was a chilling statement: “LONE WOLVES WILL POUNCE ON YOU, You mushrikeen will see real jihad in bilad Hind from now!”
Another fragment read: “People, family, wives, parents… will leave you. May Allah guide them. Gaza will only be free by…”
Police also recovered a ‘Tahrir’ letter linked to ISIS/Daesh on “Lone Wolf Attack”, along with three Qurani Nuskhe and other items.
Pahalgam-like Attack in Mumbai’s Mini-Pakistan
In Mira Bhayander, Zain Zubair Ansari stabbed two security guards, Rajkumar Mishra and Subroto Ramesh Sen, around 4 am after they refused to recite the Kalma.
He first asked about the religion of the victims and then asked them to… pic.twitter.com/qt85EYiRbb
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) April 28, 2026
The letter reportedly contained:
- Kalma
- Details about lone wolf attack
- How to establish Khilafat
- What Quran says about Khilafat
These findings are now central to the investigation, indicating that the attack may not have been random.
Apart from this, the police found a quote written on the entrace of his house. It says,
This means: “Qulo Allahu Ahad” – recite this 3 times “Recite Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem”, “Recite Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam”, “Say Assalamu Alaikum” and “Then enter.”
ATS takes over, ‘Lone Wolf’ angle probed
Given the nature of the attack, the religious targeting, and the material recovered, the Maharashtra government transferred the case to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
Officials believe the possibility of a “lone wolf” attack by a self-radicalised individual cannot be ruled out.
The ATS is now examining digital footprints, communication records, and past movements of the accused.
Who is Zaib Zubair Ansari?
Zaib Zubair Ansari, 31, lived alone at Smita Regency building in Mira Road, barely 200 metres from the crime scene.
He had spent nearly two decades in the United States, living there from 2000 to 2020 with his parents. After his work permit expired, he returned to India.
Following his return, he lived in Kurla and later in Navi Mumbai before shifting to Mira Road in 2022.
He worked as a chemistry and mathematics teacher at a coaching centre.
Investigators also revealed that his wife, an Afghan national, had allegedly left him and returned to the US.
Government Response: ‘Self-Radicalisation’
Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the incident, calling it a case of possible self-radicalisation.
“This appears to be a case of self-radicalisation. Some books and incriminating material were recovered from the accused’s residence. He lived in the US and had recently returned,” he said.
He added: “Preliminary investigations have revealed that he was radicalised and had a desire to attack members of the Hindu community in the name of jihad.”
Fadnavis further assured a comprehensive probe, “The scope of the investigation will not be limited to the accused… it will also investigate the individuals or networks behind his radicalisation.”
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, after visiting the site and meeting victims, said, “A jihadist tendency has been gaining ground in Maharashtra for some years now.”
“Naya Nagar” Jihad
I will be visiting today 11.30am Workhard Hospital & Naya Nagar Police Station Mira Road
Jihadi Extremist Jaib Jubair Ansari attacked Hindu Security Guards Rajkumar Mishra & Subrato Sen for Not Reciting Kalma
Hindus are threatened to leave Naya Nagar pic.twitter.com/BEgtRUj69P
— Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) April 28, 2026
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam added, “In the initial interrogation, he was found to be linked to terrorist organisations. The extent of his connections should be investigated. The repetition of the Pulwama incident must not be allowed.”
What began as a stabbing incident has now unfolded into a case that sits at the intersection of crime, ideology, and possible radicalisation.
The FIR lays bare the fear and helplessness of the victims. The recovered material raises troubling questions. And the involvement of ATS signals the seriousness with which agencies are treating the case.
As investigators continue to piece together Ansari’s actions, influences, and intent, one question remains central, was this an isolated act, or a warning sign of something deeper taking root?
