Suspect In Kozhikode Train Fire Case Nabbed By Police In Maharashtra

Kozhikode Train Fire Case: The police have nabbed the suspect in Maharashtra who is accused of pouring petrol on a co-passenger and setting a fire in a compartment.

The suspect in the Kozhikode train fire incident, Shahrukh Saifi, has been nabbed by police from Maharashtra. He had allegedly poured petrol on a passenger and set a fire inside the D1 compartment of the Alappuzha-Kannur Main Executive Express train near Elathoor in Kozhikode district. Three people have lost their lives in the incident.

News agency ANI reported citing Maharashtra ATS that a joint team of Central Intelligence and the ATS nabbed the absconding accused in the Kozhikode train fire incident from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. A team of Kerala police has also reached Ratnagiri and the suspect is being handed over to them.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reacted to the development and said, "The person who committed this heinous crime has been apprehended in Ratnagiri of Maharashtra. I thank the Maharashtra govt, their police and RPF and NIA who have apprehended him this quickly."

Inspector General of Railway Protection Force Easwara Rao said that they are reviewing the security gaps in connection with the Kozhikode train fire incident.
 
On the Kozhikode train fire incident, Inspector General of Railway Protection Force Easwara Rao said, "Kannur | This is an unfortunate incident. We are reviewing the security gaps. We need to install CCTVs in railway coaches and smaller railway stations. We are confident of apprehending the accused."

Three persons, including a two-year-old child, died and nine others suffered injuries after an accused sprinkled petrol and set the people inside a coach on fire in D1 Coach of Train 16307, Alappuzha-Kannur Express at 9.30 pm on Sunday. 

Two other passengers who also suffered injuries are said to be critical. 

The police recovered the bodies of the deceased from the railway track since the victims fell off the moving train while trying to escape the attack. The victims were identified as Rahmath, her niece and another man named Naufeeq. 

After the incident, the accused jumped off the train and escaped from the spot. 

Later, the police said that the suspect is Shahrukh Saifi, a native of Noida and he had been working in the construction sector in Kozhikode. The police then released a sketch of the suspect's face but the accused is yet to be arrested.

A Special Investigation Team with 18 members has been formed to investigate into the case. The NIA has also started investigating the incident.

The DGP said that the conspiracy angle would be probed.