Tanzeel Iftikhar BASHIR

Tragic scenes at funeral of Sydney cop Tanzeel Iftikhar Bashir found dead at the Royal National Park

EXCLUSIVE: ‘He wouldn’t hurt a fly. But he hurt himself’: Tragic scenes at Islamic funeral of constable, 23, who took his own life – as cops break down in tears and form a final guard of honour

• Tanzeel Iftikhar Bashir, 23, was found dead in Royal National Park south of Sydney early on Saturday morning
• Concerns had been raised for the 23-year-old Bankstown police area command cop’s welfare last Friday night
• Tributes have flowed for the cricket, football and animal-loving officer with an Islamic funeral held on Tuesday
• Hundreds of mourners including scores of uniformed officers attended the mosque and Narellan Cemetery
• Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 if you need support

By Stephen Gibbs for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 07:57 BST, 6 September 2022 | Updated: 08:19 BST, 6 September 2022

 

 

There were no formal eulogies for Constable Tanzeel Bashir but everyone who gathered for his funeral on Tuesday knew what the community had lost. Constable Berkay Tustas (above) was inconsolable at the service.  He had graduated from the NSW Police Academy with Constable Bashir in 2019

Constable Charlene Challita was among those hardest hit by her colleague’s death. ‘He was my best mate,’ she said after the service.

One friend who preferred not to be named said he had grown up with Constable Bashir in the Belmore-Lakemba area and had last seen him three weeks ago.

‘I’m simply shocked,’ he said. ‘We never saw it coming.

‘He was kind-hearted, down-to-earth and just a charming personality.’

Canterbury Bankstown deputy mayor Bilal El-Hayek said the local community was mourning a fine young policeman and his family was trying to understand why he was gone.

‘He was a loving son and brother and proud officer, gone too soon,’ Mr El-Hayek said.

‘It’s a timely reminder of the human face of the men and women who serve our community.’

Cousin Momin Ali said his cousin had loved being a police officer from the start. ‘Tanzeel was very dedicated to his job,’ he said. ‘He wore his uniform with a lot of pride.’

Constable Tustas, who was rostered on duty, waited outside while prayers were said for his dead friend. He was inconsolable but workmates tried to offer comfort.

‘I had to make my way here,’ he said. ‘I came to pay my respects to him because I owe him that much.

‘Tanzeel had the purest heart of all. Purer than crystal. There’s no words. I can’t register anything. I just can’t believe it.’

Constable Tustas spoke of a young man who loved his cricket, football and animals – often sending him unsolicited pictures of his cats.

‘The way Tanzeel was if you needed anything done at the academy or in general he wouldn’t even ask why,’ he’d just do it,’ Constable Tustas said. ‘He was always there for me.’

‘I feel so sorry for the family. If I’m feeling like this, how do they cope? May he rest in peace. I loved the kid.’

Momin Ali said the suicide of a friend’s girlfriend several years ago had been part of the reason his cousin had chosen to join the police force.

‘He just felt he wanted to help people,’ Mr Ali said. ‘To reassure people that there is help out there for those who need it. It was his dream to help people.’

Mr Ali said his cousin had loved being a police officer from the start.

‘Tanzeel was very dedicated to his job,’ he said. ‘He wore his uniform with a lot of pride.

‘He never hurt anyone. All he wanted to do was to put smiles on people’s faces. It was just the type of person he was.’

As for what had driven his cousin to despair, Mr Ali had no idea.

‘I guess everyone goes through their own battles,’ he said. ‘He seemed really happy.

‘He’d seen some things but every time when I asked him how he was going he’d say “I love the job”.’

One of Constable Bashir’s relatives had appealed on Facebook for family and friends to attend his funeral and hundreds came to the service.

‘It is with a heavy heart I announce our beloved Tanzeel Iftikhar Bashir, 23 years old, a loving son, brother and friend has returned to his Lord,’ the relative wrote.

‘Please spread the word so that we can have as many people attend my cousin’s janazah as possible.’

Loved ones used social media to remember Constable Bashir, who had two younger sisters, as a ‘loving son, brother and friend’.

‘Rest in peace to an absolute legend,’ one said. Others remembered a ‘fun guy’ and ‘great man’.

A funeral notice asked Allah to bestow comfort upon Constable Bashir’s family and loved ones.

‘O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him and grant him peace and pardon him,’ the notice stated.

‘Receive him with honour and make his place of entry spacious. Admit him into Paradise and protect him from the torment of the grave and the torment of the Fire.’

Constable Tustas was one of four constables and a dozen commissioned officers to form a guard of honour as his friend’s casket was carried back down the mosque’s steps to a waiting hearse.

Three police motorcyclists led the 45km cortege to Narellan Cemetery for the burial.

As the hearse passed Constable Tustas he stood alone on the road and raised one last salute.

Further prayers were held at the cemetery where scores of uniformed police who had not been at the mosque paid their last respects.

A line of mourners formed to greet Constable Bashir’s father Iftikhar and Mr Ali and pay their condolences with hugs and handshakes.

Support services have been offered to Constable Bashir’s family, colleagues and the entire NSW Police force.