Bengaluru: According to reports, the NIA officer Tanzil Ahmad who was fatally shot dead by two unidentified assailants in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, April 3, was largely responsible for the arrest of Yasin Bhatkal, the co founder of terror outfit Indian Mujahideen.

It may be recalled that Tanzil was shot 24 times by two men near his house, when he was returning home after attending a family wedding. His wife too who suffered serious injuries is battling for life.

Tanzil was the man who tracked down and gathered information about Yasin Bhatkal alias Mohammed Zarar Sidibapa from Bhatkal in Karnataka, one of the most wanted fugitive-terrorists, since his deputation in 2009 from the Border Security Force(BSF) to the NIA, sources said.

Yasin Bhatkal was arrested from Raxaul in Bihar near the Indo-Nepal border in 2013.

“An NIA team had closed in on Yasin much before he was arrested from his hideout in Nahar Chowk in Raxual with the help of local police. Tanzil was a key member of the team, that was co-ordinating with the Intelligence wing of the Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB), posted on the Indo-Nepal border,” an officer said.

“He was very sure about his moves and had mobilised the team, which ultimately led to the ultra’s arrest from his hideout. It was because of his proficiency in Urdu and expertise in gathering ground Intelligence that he was deputed to the NIA”, said an officer to sources.

According to sources, Tanzil was not part of the investigation in the Pathankot airbase terror attack as was being reported.