2 detained for NIA official’s murder

The Uttar Pradesh police on Thursday detained two persons in connection with the murder of NIA officer Tanzil Ahmad. Of the two people detained by the police, one is a former student of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) while the other is a sharp-shooter and a contract killer. The Pulsar bike, allegedly used by the assassins during the killing, has also been recovered from Bareilly.

ADG Daljit Chaudhary, however, denied that any detention or arrest has been made.

Sources said that Muneer, the main accused, is a resident of Seohara town in Bijnore district, and he allegedly eliminated the officer to settle some property dispute. Muneer’s name surfaced during the interrogation of the suspects who were detained by the police on Wednesday after raiding their hideouts in Bijnore, Aligarh, Sambhal and Bulandshahar districts.

Sources said Muneer came in contact with Tanzil Ahmed as they belonged to the same town and later developed enmity over some property dispute. The officer was killed owing to a dispute over a shop in New Delhi. Initially, it was believed that the killing had a terror angle as Tanzil Ahmad was involved in some sensitive cases, including the Pathankot terror attack probe. ADG Chaudhary also said, “There are certain things which are pointing towards a personal matter.”

Police sources said they believe the conspiracy to kill the officer was hatched in Sahaspur village in Bijnore where he attended his niece’s wedding hours before he was shot dead. The video footage from the wedding had revealed two unidentified persons who became the prime suspects but they were later identified and found to have no link with the murder.

Mr Ahmed’s family, sources said, has requested a CBI inquiry, saying it is not happy with the progress in the case and also over the fact that “personal issues” are being linked to the murder.