A senior official of the National Investigation Agency was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh, late on Saturday. Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tanzil was returning from a wedding with his wife Farzana and children when he was attacked near Sahaspur village. The assailants on a motorcycle reportedly shot at the couple at close range, but did not hurt their children.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said a central team has been sent to the district to probe the murder, and they will submit a report soon. Delhi Police's special cell is also part of the probe team, reported ANI.

According to Tanzil's brother Raghib Ahmed, the NIA officer was shot 21 times, while his wife was shot four times, NDTV reported. He also said that Tanzil did not have any enemies. Farzana was taken to Fortis hospital in Noida and is in critical condition.

NIA Inspector General Sanjiv Kumar Singh said the Uttar Pradesh police is investigating the "planned attack" on Tanzil, along with the Anti-Terrorism Squad and a Special Task Force. ATS and NIA teams visited the Moradabad hospital where Tanzil's body was taken, he added.

It was earlier reported that Tanzil was part of several terror-related investigations, including the Pathankot airbase attacks case, but an NIA official clarified later that he was not part of the Pathnkot probe, ANI reported.