Thiruvananthapuram: A particular investigation group (SIT) of Kerala Police probing the hearth incident in a transferring prepare earlier this month, that left three folks useless, mentioned on Monday that lone accused Shahrukh Saifi was extremely radicalised and movies of controversial Islamic preachers like Zakir Naik and Israr Ahmad (Pakistan theologian) have been recovered from his cell phone.
Extra director common of police (ADGP) M R Ajith Kumar, who’s supervising the SIT probe, additionally mentioned an investigation is underway to determine if the 27-year-old accused had obtained any assist from extremist outfits to hold out the arson.
The ADGP, nonetheless, refused to touch upon the motive behind the assault.
The accused was booked beneath the Illegal Actions (Prevention) Act on Sunday, paving the best way for the Nationwide Investigation Company (NIA) to take over the case.
Talking to reporters in Kozhikode (north Kerala), the ADGP mentioned: “We’ve obtained all the main points of his journey from Delhi to Shornur and his escape after committing the crime. His background and different particulars present he was extremely radicalised. He has been watching movies of many controversial figures, together with Zakir Naik and Israr Ahmad. It’s too early to say if he had obtained any assist from different quarters.”
He added: “Saifi got here to Kerala with the intention of committing the crime. He had a transparent plan to hold out arson. A probe is underway to determine if he obtained help from some extremist outfits in Kerala or from different elements of the nation.”
The officer mentioned the case is very delicate and he can not reveal additional particulars.
On April 2, Saifi, a resident of Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, allegedly sprinkled petrol and set co-passengers of D-1 compartment on hearth after the Alappuzha-Kannur Inter-Metropolis Categorical prepare left Kozhikode station at round 9.30pm. Within the commotion, some passengers jumped from the working prepare; three folks, together with a toddler, died after they jumped out. 9 others sustained burn accidents.
Police later recovered a bag with a bottle of petrol and two cellphones from the railway tracks.
Saifi, who additionally suffered some burns, was caught on April 5 in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district by the state’s anti-terror squad, following inputs from Kerala Police and central intelligence businesses.
Officers later mentioned Saifi had first arrived at Shornur railway junction from the nationwide capital within the early hours of April 2 earlier than boarding the Alappuzha-Kannur prepare.
Final week, the SIT held an identification parade throughout which two passengers recognized the accused.
A senior SIT officer, who didn’t want to be recognized, mentioned “it was a well-planned terror act” and a probe can also be happening in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, in addition to Delhi.
Officers had earlier mentioned that anti-terrorism squads from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have sought Saifi’s particulars, with police suspecting he might have gotten assist from Tamil Nadu.
With Saifi’s police custody slated to finish on Tuesday, the SIT will transfer one other plea to get additional custody, the SIT officer talked about above mentioned.
Whereas native media stories instructed that 5 folks, together with a municipal councillor, have been detained and questioned for allegedly offering logistics to the accused, the SIT officer mentioned they’re but to confirm their roles. The officer mentioned the 5 folks have been detained for some time however allowed to go away thereafter.
“However we’re certain he obtained assist as it isn’t attainable for him to hold out such an act on his personal. We want extra time to unravel this,” the officer mentioned.
The officer additionally mentioned that Kerala was maybe chosen as the location of the assault due to its proximity with the banned In style Entrance of India (PFI).
“Many of the arrested high PFI leaders are from Kerala. A state-born outfit, Kozhikode remained PFI’s headquarters for a few years. We suspect Kerala was chosen to avenge the crackdown on PFI by some radical components. Apart from this, we don’t see every other cause to focus on Kerala,” the officer mentioned, including {that a} probe is underway to determine any attainable hyperlinks between Saifi and PFI.