Mumbai horror: Man asks two security guards to recite ‘kalma’, then stabs them

According to police sources cited by NDTV, the accused, Zaib Zuber Ansari, allegedly demanded that the guards recite the ‘kalma’ (Islamic verses) before attacking them.

Also Read: Pahalgam, one year on: The attack that shook India and the response that redefined power

The two injured security guards were identified as Rajkumar Mishra and Subroto Sen.

The incident reportedly took place on Monday at an under-construction building located behind Wockhardt Hospital, where both guards were on duty.

Following the attack, the injured men were rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Police scanned CCTV footage from the area and tracked down Ansari within 90 minutes, leading to his arrest.

He was taken to Naya Nagar Police Station, where a case was registered against him. After being produced before a court, Ansari was remanded to police custody until May 4.

According to reports, a joint team of local police and the state Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) is now investigating the case.

Authorities are also examining mobile phones and other electronic devices seized from Ansari to determine whether the attack was an isolated incident or part of a larger conspiracy.

Sources told NDTV that words such as ‘ISIS’, ‘lone wolf’, ‘jihad’, and ‘Gaza’ were allegedly found scribbled in notes written by Ansari.

Sources further claimed that Ansari had lived in the United States for several years, where some of his family members still reside. He reportedly returned to India after failing to secure stable employment there.

Similarity with the Pahalgam attack

The case has drawn comparisons with the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, in which terrorists linked to The Resistance Front (TRF)—an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—allegedly asked victims to recite Islamic verses and checked their religious identity before opening fire in front of their families.

The massacre sparked nationwide outrage and sharply escalated tensions between India and Pakistan, with New Delhi vowing strong retaliation.