New Delhi, NIA has taken over the Kerala train fire tragedy case and has started its investigation on “highly radicalized” arrested accused Shahrukh Safi. According to sources, this step has been taken following an order issued by the Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalization (CTCR) Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Sources said that as this was a clear case of terror involving multiple states, the NIA invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on the basis of its suspicion that the accused was sent to the state by his handlers and received substantial local help Was. ,Step taken on the orders of Ministry of Home Affairs

The NIA action comes days after the accused, identified as Shahrukh Saifi, who sustained injuries during the terrorist activity, was convicted by a district sessions court in Kozhikode under Indian Penal Code section 98 was slapped with murder charges on Friday. He was charged with murder in a case filed by the Railway Police. According to officials, there was a pre-planned conspiracy behind the crime and it was not a one-man mission as confessed by the accused. ,ATS had arrested Saifi

Saifee, a resident of Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra Police and Central Intelligence on Wednesday and was brought to Kozhikode earlier this month, where he is undergoing treatment. Was. Saifi, when interrogated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), gave contradictory statements in which initially, he said that he was being used by someone and later retracted saying that everything was planned and organized by him. was implemented. , Saifi used to listen to the provocative speeches of Zakir Naik

Saifi, who was assessed by the Kerala police to be “highly radicalized” and influenced by the inflammatory speeches of Islamic evangelist Zakir Naik, planned and executed the arson. The agency will also look into possible handlers and accomplices who could be part of the conspiracy and probe inter-state linkages, given that Saifi is a resident of Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh and was arrested from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. , Passengers set on fire in Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express

On April 2, Saifi attempted to set fire to the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express at Elathur in Kozhikode by spraying inflammable liquid on some passengers, killing three in an attempt to jump off the train to escape the fire. Passengers died. Later Saifi was arrested from Ratnagiri.

NIAUAPAPublished Date

Tue, Apr 18, 2023, 5: 30 PM IST