NIA officer murder: Main accused held after gunfight

The Uttar Pradesh STF on Tuesday morning arrested 25-year-old Muneer Ahmed, the main accused in murder case of National Investigative Agency (NIA) officer Mohammad Tanzil Ahmad and his wife Farzana, from Noida.

The police was chasing Muneer over two months, but the chase ended on Tuesday early morning when UP special task force (STF) intensive eight-hour long search of over 100 buses at three ISBTs of Delhi, India Gate, Bikaner House and Dhaula Kuan over specific input that he was trying to escape to Ahmadabad.

The team finally arrested him after an exchange of fire at Bisrakh in Greater Noida.

“I have no remorse. Will kill more officers if they come in my way,” said Muneer. Special force of UP police termed his as an “aggressive moody killer” and said that each member of three raiding team was wearing bullet-proof jackets as Muneer never hesitate to open fire on policemen. He keeps four arms — two 9 MM pistol and two .32 bore revolver.

“On Tuesday, he opened fire on police team when he was intercepted near Bisrakh. He only surrendered when police opened fire with assault rifles,” said Amit Pathak, senior superintendent of police (SSP), STF.

“He was overpowered and was arrested. His accomplice Adnan, who was giving him shelter in his flat at Crossings Republik, was also arrested within few hours after Muneer’s arrest,” said Mr Pathak.

Tanzeel and Farzana were shot dead at Bijnor area on the night of April 2. More than 20 rounds were fired on them. Two of the attackers, Rayyan and Jumi alias Zainul, were arrested earlier. Tanzeel had died with over 12 bullet injuries on the spot while Farzana succumbed to her injuries at a Delhi hospital 10 days later. The police denied any terror link in the incident.

The police said Muneer and Tanzeel were from the same village. Muneer knew him and his gang member Rayyan is the cousin of Tanzeel.

Rayyan was having a property dispute at his village where Tanzeel allegedly helped his opponents that irked Muneer. Muneer and his gang were involved in over 12 cases of robbery in western UP. After a committing a robbery last year, Muneer fled from Aligarh and took shelter to his friend’s place in Delhi. The Delhi police incidentally called his friend for questioning. Muneer thought Tanzeel is leaking information about his gang to the police.

“Muneer’s godfather in crime is Ashutosh Mihsra. Mishra is a dreaded criminal and is a mastermind of `1.5 crore heist at Delhi’s Kamla Market area that occurred on November 29, 2014. Mishra and Muneer were part of the robbery.