The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officials on Tuesday night in an operation at Ratnagiri, apprehended a 27-year-old suspect allegedly involved in the incident of arson aboard an express train in Kozhikode district of Kerala in which three people were killed.
The suspect has been identified as Shahrukh Saifee, a resident of Shaheen Bagh, Jamia Nagar, Okhla, South Delhi.
Joint operation launched by ATS and ATC of Ratnagiri Police Station
According to the ATS, confidential information was received that the suspect wanted in the case registered with the Calicut Railway Police Station (Kerala) has absconded from the Ratnagiri district hospital after taking medication. An operation was then carried out jointly by the ATS along with Anti-Terror Cell (ATC) of Ratnagiri Police Station to trace the suspect.
Based on the above information, the police teams managed to trace the suspect at Ratnagiri Railway Station. At that time, he had a mobile phone, Aadhaar card, PAN card and an ATM card. "During preliminary inquiry, Saif has confessed to committing the crime in Kerala and his custody has been handed over to the Kerala police for further investigation," said an ATS official.
Missing bodies of people found near the tracks
On Sunday night, an unidentified man set fire to passengers after pouring petrol on them when the train reached Korapuzha bridge near Elathur. Nine people suffered burn injuries and are undergoing treatment at various hospitals. The bodies of a woman, an infant, and a man, who went missing from the train after the fire, were recovered from the tracks near the Elathur railway station, late on Sunday night.
The Police believe they fell off the train or attempted to get down after seeing the fire. The police had registered a case under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 326 (a) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc.), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc), 438 (mischief committed by fire or explosive substance) of the Indian Penal Code and section 151 (damage to or destruction of certain railway properties) of the Railway Act.
Sketch of suspect released based on description by witness
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala Police was subsequently formed and it had intensified its probe into the incident. A sketch of the suspect was released by the Kerala Police based on the description given by a witness. According to police, the incident was probably pre-planned as he was carrying petrol in a bottle in his bag.
