His last words saved our kids’ lives, says slain NIA official’s wife

“Bachon bend down!” were the last words of Tanzil Ahmed, DSP in the National Investigation Agency (NIA), who was ambushed by unidentified armed assailants in Western UP and shot 21 times. His wife Farzana survived the attack as she suffered four bullets while trying to save him. The couple’s two children had a close shave.

According to a senior police official of the NIA, close to investigation, as soon as the motorbike-borne armed assailants stopped Ahmed’s WagonR car, he had sensed the attack. The moment, Ahmed saw them pointing a gun towards him, he asked his children, who were sitting on the rear seat, to bend down immediately. The incident took place around 12:45 am when the slain official’s family was returning from a wedding in their hometown at Bijnor.

Ahmed lived with his family in South-East Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area. Farzana, who is a teacher at a government school in Batla House, said their children were alive only because Ahmed asked them to bend down, the official told Millennium Post, requesting anonymity.  She added had her husband not alerted the children,  they too would have suffered bullet injuries.

“Their 16-year-old daughter had recently appeared in her Class 10 exam and was waiting for her result, while their son is aged 12 years. On Friday, I had spoken with Ahmed,” said Manzar Ali, Ahmed’s neighbour.

His friends and relatives, who visited his house said that they were unaware that Ahmed was a DSP in the NIA. 

“We only knew that he works in the Border Security Force (BSF). We have never seen him in uniform, nor did he discuss his professional life with us,” said Mehboon Alam, another neighbour.

His relative Muzamil said: “After the incident, the authorities concerned must provide protection to Ahmed’s family. He has given his life for the country and we are proud of him.” 

Around 6 pm on Sunday, the mortal remains of Ahmed was brought to his residence, where he had been living for the past 20 years. When Ahmed’s body was brought to his home, his neighbours and relatives blamed the Delhi and UP governments for inaction and demanded ‘martyr status for him. Ahmed was given the Guard of Honour before his body was buried. 

Sanjeev Singh, IG, NIA, said the BSF would provide Rs 20 lakh compensation to Ahmed’s family and one of his family members would also be given a government job.