Train arsonist undergoes medical examination

April 06, 2023 13:26

The compartment of the Alapuzha-Kannur Express that was set on fire

The man suspected of starting a fire onboard a train in Kerala which led to the death of three, including a toddler, was brought to the southern state by road on Thursday morning after being caught in Ratnagiri in Maharashtra on the previous day.

Presently he is being examined by a team of doctors at the Kozhikode Medical College, Kerala Police Chief Anil Kant told reporters. Kant said doctors from all disciplines, including orthopedics and general medicine, and forensics are examining him.

"We have not started questioning him. We will begin questioning him once he is cleared for it by the medical team," he said. Kant also said which provisions of law, including UAPA, should be invoked against the suspect -- Shahrukh Saifi -- and whether there were others behind the fire incident, would be decided after he was questioned.

"We are happy that we were able to trace him well in time. It was due to a combined effort by the SIT, central intelligence agencies and Maharashtra police," he said.

Regarding the persons injured in the arson attack on April 2 night, the State Police Chief said that one of them had 35-40 per cent burns while the rest were stable. Saifi was taken to the medical college for examination in a four-vehicle convoy which included a bus full of police commandos.

At the hospital too, tight security arrangements were in place to avoid any member of the public or the press coming close to the suspect, according to visuals shown on TV channels.

According to police, the incident was probably pre-planned as he was carrying petrol in a bottle in his bag. Subsequent to the tragic incident on April 2, the Kerala Police had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to identify and apprehend the assailant. After a sketch of the assailant was released by Kerala Police based on the statements of passengers who witnessed the incident, the suspect was caught from Ratnagiri by Maharashtra ATS. PTI

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