Kozhikode train fire: Accused nabbed from Maharashtra

The youth, identified as Shahrukh Saifi, was caught in an operation conducted by the Maharashtra ATS and the Central agencies

A 27-year-old man hailing from Shaheen Bagh in South Delhi was held in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri in connection with the Kerala train fire incident which resulted in the death of three people. The suspect, Shahrukh Saifi, has confessed to the crime.

Police are trying to find the motive behind the incident. Saifi was arrested by Maharashtra Police and Anti-Terrorism Squad. Kerala Police and central agencies are learnt to have carried out searches at his Delhi house. He is being brought to Kerala.

On the night of April 2, Saifi set fire to a coach of Alappuzha-Kannur train after sprinkling an inflammable solution. Three passengers who tried to escape by jumping off the train were found dead on the railway track.

Police nabbed Saifi, said to be a carpenter, while he was trying to escape from a hospital where he was treated for burns. Sources said all aspects, including his links with any extremist outfit, are being investigated.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has confirmed the arrest of the suspect.

Sources said that the location of the suspected accused was tracked with the help of the location of a SIM card that was earlier used in a mobile phone recovered from the bag. The investigation agencies were trying to track the SIM card location.

By late on Tuesday night the police got information that the SIM was activated and hence it was located that he was in Ratnagiri. The Maharashtra police and ATS swung into action and nabbed him while trying to escape from a hospital where he was under treatment for burns and other injuries believed to be suffered while setting fire to the train. He was held at the local railway station.

ATS officials said that he confessed to the crime and was handed over to the Kerala police team that had already reached Maharashtra as part of the probe. Kerala police also cross-checked the identity of the suspected accused with the help of passengers on the train.

Kerala state police chief Anil Kant said that the motive of the crime could be confirmed only after a detailed investigation and interrogation.

Sources said that all aspects including links of Saifi with any extremist outfits were also being probed.

Saifi was reported missing on March 31 and his family was also learnt to have lodged a missing complaint. A team of Kerala police and central agencies are verifying his whereabouts. He was believed to be engaged in carpentry works.