Zaib Zubair Ansari, accused in the Mira Road stabbing case, allegedly complained during police questioning that he felt socially isolated and said people did not communicate or behave properly with him, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
He reportedly told investigators: “Mujhe bhade par room koi deta nahi… mere saath koi theek se baat nahi karta… log mere saath achha bartav nahi karte (No one gave me a room on rent. Nobody speaks properly to me. No one behaves properly with me).” Police are examining these statements as part of efforts to understand his mindset and possible triggers behind the incident.
ALSO READ | ‘Are You Hindu?’: Eyewitness Recalls Encounter With Accused After Mira Road Stabbing Incident
Ansari, who is currently
in custody, was arrested by Naya Nagar police, with the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) taking over the investigation. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also conducting a parallel probe into the pre-dawn incident on Monday when Ansari approached two guards, asked them about their religion and if they knew the ‘Kalma’, and then attacked them with a knife.
Sources said investigators found Ansari’s behaviour unusual during initial questioning. He reportedly kept washing his hands repeatedly and insisted on taking a bath multiple times. Officials believe the behaviour may have been deliberate, though its significance is still under review.
During searches at his residence in Naya Nagar, where he was arrested, investigators found clothes scattered inside the house. Agencies also recovered three copies of the Quran and a handwritten note placed near a laptop. The note allegedly contained references to “lone wolf” attacks and mentions linked to Islamic State ideology.
Officials, however, said the authenticity and relevance of the recovered material are still being verified.
News18 has also reported that investigators also found that Ansari had formatted his mobile phone around the time of the incident. Forensic teams are being brought in to recover deleted data.
A Troubled Personal Life
Ansari’s family originally hails from Kurla but moved to the United States nearly two decades ago and continues to live there. He returned to India in 2019 after a family dispute and has since been living independently. His marriage reportedly ended earlier this year. He was staying in rented accommodation in Naya Nagar and earned a living by conducting online science tuition classes.
According to sources, his father, a cab driver in the US, had been sending him money for daily expenses.
Investigators are now trying to determine whether the attack was spontaneous, premeditated, or influenced by extremist ideology. The case remains under active investigation by multiple agencies.
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-177767103919987375.webp)
