Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) has received many shocking inputs in the investigation of Maharashtra's Mira Road stabbing case. According to the investigating agencies here, the accused Zaib Zubair Ansari (31) adopted a planned pattern instead of running away after the incident, which has deepened the suspicion that he was trying to link himself with the 'Lone Wolf' terrorist narrative. According to sources, after the attack, Ansari returned directly to his home which is just 100 meters away from the attack site. From here he washed the knife used in the crime, changed his blood stained clothes and then wore black clothes.
ATS is investigating whether wearing black clothes was just a coincidence or there was some radical symbolism behind it. Investigative agencies say that black color is associated with Rayat al-Uqab (Black Standard), which has been used by terrorist organizations like ISIS in their propaganda videos and so-called martyrdom messages.
Officials suspect that the accused was planning to record a video and release it online after the attack, so that the incident could be branded and linked to the global jihadi narrative. According to sources, the activities of the accused indicate that he wanted to associate himself with the ideology of ISIS and was copying the propaganda mechanism of the organization. However, due to prompt action of the police, he was arrested from his house within a few hours of the incident.
Naya Nagar police have recovered the knife used in the crime and blood stained clothes from the house of the accused, which have now been handed over to ATS for investigation. Investigation has also revealed that the accused had formatted his mobile phone just before his arrest. The agencies suspect that he did this with the intention of destroying digital evidence. Apart from this, his second mobile phone is still missing. Officials believe that he may have thrown the phone away before his arrest, so that agencies could not access his dark web network or contacts.
The recovered laptop and formatted mobile phone have been sent for forensic examination so that the deleted data can be recovered. Besides, the search for the missing mobile phone is also going on. The investigating agencies are deeply investigating the digital activities and online contacts of the accused. According to sources, the agencies are also working on the angle whether the accused was actually working alone or he was getting some kind of real-time guidance online. Officials say that organizations like ISIS have long been spreading propaganda material through encrypted messaging platforms, closed online channels and social media networks. Through such material, attempts are made to take responsibility for violent incidents, spread ideology and motivate supporters.
During interrogation, the investigating agencies have also described the mental condition of the accused as very worrying. According to sources, the accused is living in a kind of 'world of illusion'. He is confident that ISIS has accepted his attack and the organization will soon launch an operation to free him and include him in their network.
During custody, severe mental instability and obsessive behavior was also observed in the accused. According to sources, he is demanding to wash hands and take bath again and again. He keeps saying that his hands are dirty and he needs to take a bath. However, investigating agencies say that his behavior at the time of the incident was very calm and planned. He attacked the first two guards in a silent manner and reacted only after the intervention of the third guard. During this time he said that he made a mistake.
On Wednesday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also joined the investigation. NIA officials interrogated the accused and later he was taken to the crime scene reconstruction site. ATS and NIA are now investigating the online radical network, digital propaganda mechanism and possible terrorist links of the accused in this entire case.
