Mastermind Munir of slain NIA officer arrested

The Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police arrested 25-year-old Mohammed Munir who masterminded the murder of slain National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer Tanzil Ahmed, bringing an almost three-month-long manhunt to an end.

At a press conference organised by the STF to announce the arrest, the accused Munir told the waiting media personnel that he had "no regrets" and that he had his "reasons to kill Ahmed," before he was whisked off for interrogation.

Ahmed who was returning home after attending his niece's wedding was shot 21 times by bike-borne assailants on two bikes whereas his Mastermind Munir of slain NIA officer arrested wife Farzana who was with him suffered wounds to the stomach. Both succumbed to their injuries.

Munir and Ahmed's connections go way back to their hometown Sahaspur in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Munir, a history sheeter was closely associated with "policeman" Ahmed. He was perhaps unaware that Ahmed was a Border Security Force (BSF) assistant commandant on deputation to NIA. Ahmed investigated terrorism cases including the Indian Mujahideen - not local petty crime.

When Munir's associates were arrested by the police for various crimes committed by them, Munir, was convinced that Ahmed was the one passing information and decided to kill him.

Munir emerged as a prime suspect when his associates Rehaan and Tanzeem were arrested in connection with Ahmed's murder. Shortly after Ahmed's murder, in an April 12 press conference, UP police had stated that Ahmed's murder was a case of "personal enmity" and credited the murder to Munir. However, NIA claimed, Ahmed's murder was "terror related," a stance that has not yet been ruled out according to sources within the nation's premier counter terror agency.

Munir's aide Ashutosh Mishra, who was arrested by Delhi Police's Special Cell last week, confirmed Munir's involvement in the murder.

"Ahmed's murder was a case of personal enmity and there is no terror angle," said Amit Pathak, senior superintendent of police, STF. Sources close to the investigation claim, that Munir had made several failed attempts to murder Ahmed before finally succeeding on the intervening nights between April 2-3.

"Munir was clever since he never stayed in one location for longer than three days and did not use any electronic communication device which made it harder for us to track him," Pathak said.

Track record

Munir has seven cases registered against him and carried a reward of Rs. 50,000 for information leading to capture.
Robbed Rs1.5 crore from Citibank ATM in Kamla Nagar, Delhi
Robbed Rs91 lakh from PNB in Dhampur, UP
Robbed more than Rs60 lakhs in Aligarh
Four cases of murder/attempt to murder registered