National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer Mohammed Tanzil Ahmad, who was shot dead by two unidentified motorbike-borne assailants in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor, has been given martyr status today.
NIA IG Sanjiv Kumar Singh announced that all provisions shall be provided to the deceased officer's family. The Border Security Force (BSF) has granted Rs 20 lakhs to Ahmad's family.
Mohammad Tanzil's last rites were performed late in the evening amid Inquilab Zinadabad slogans, raised by locals. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal paid tribute to the NIA officer.
Six teams comprising of officials of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have been formed to probe into the brutal attack.
The NIA IG refused to comment on Tanzil Ahmad's involvement in cases pertaining to terrorist outfits like the Islamic State, Indian Mujahideen or Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
An assistant commandant with the BSF, Tanzil Ahmad was on deputation with the NIA. A Bijnor native, Ahmad was posted as an inspector-rank officer at the NIA headquarters in New Delhi.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that he has been apprised of the incident and that a comprehensive report is being prepared.
"Whatever's necessary is being done. We are talking (to NIA officials)," Singh said.
45-year-old Ahmad, who has been with the NIA ever since the organisation was formed in February 2009, had been investigating several cases related to the banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen. His superiors termed him as a thorough professional in intelligence gathering as well as investigation.
Superintendent of Police (Bijnor) Subhash Singh Baghel said, Ahmad came to Bijnor on Friday to attend his niece's marriage. Ahmad's family lives in Sahaspur village in Bijnor.
At around 8.00 pm on Saturday evening, Ahmad and his family left their home for the marriage function organised at Bandhan Guest House at Sohara village, which is around nine kilometers from their residence.
"After attending the function, Tanzil and his family were returning home at around 1.00 am. When their vehicle was around 300 meters away from their residence, two youths on a motorcycle waved their hand. When Tanzil stopped his car, they fired several rounds and escaped. Tanzil and his wife were in the front seat, while his two children, 14-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old were in the back seat," the SP said.
Hearing the sound of gunshots, locals rushed to the spot and one of them informed the Bijnor police. A police team was rushed to the spot and the officer along with his wife were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors referred them to Moradabad. Tanzil Ahmad was declared dead by doctors upon reaching the Moradabad hospital while his wife was referred to Delhi.