Kerala Train Fire: Accused Shahrukh Saifi Brought To Kozhikode

Shahrukh Saifi will go through a medical check-up at the Maloorkunnu police camp in Kozhikode.

Police carry out checks at the Central Railway Station in light of the arson attack inside a train near Kozhikode two days back, in Thiruvananthapuram, Tuesday, April 4, 2023. ( Image Source :PTI )

Shahrukh Saifi, the prime accused in the Kozhikode train fire incident was brought to Kozhikode on Thursday morning. Saifi will go through a medical check-up at the Maloorkunnu police camp in Kozhikode. 

#WATCH | Kerala: Kozhikode Elathur train attack case accused Shahrukh Saifi brought Kozhikode.

He is being taken to Maloorkunnu police camp, where his medical check-up will be done. pic.twitter.com/MMbnXJc4Nu

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2023

Delhi native Shahrukh Saifi, the man suspected of starting a fire onboard a train in Kerala which led to the death of three, was apprehended on Wednesday from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra by ATS.

He was caught from the Ratnagiri railway station in a joint operation with the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Intelligence Team, using the input from the Intelligence Team. 

"Last night we received input from the Intelligence Agency that the suspect in the Kerala case is likely to be in Ratnagiri. Based on the information, we took out a joint operation with Ratnagiri police to trace the accused," the officer said.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad of Maharashtra handed over the custody of Shahrukh Saifi, who was detained late night with the help of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri.

On the night of April 2, Saifi allegedly poured petrol on a passenger and set a fire inside the D1 compartment of the Alappuzha-Kannur Main Executive Express train near Elathur in Kozhikode district. 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 Elathur railway station. Police believe they fell off the train or attempted to get down after seeing the fire.

According to police, the incident was probably pre-planned as he was carrying petrol in a bottle in his bag. Kerala Police chief Kant said the suspect was apprehended due to the combined efforts of the Kerala SIT, central agencies and Maharashtra police.

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

The DGP said that the conspiracy angle would be probed.