Kerala Train Fire: NIA Conducts Raids in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is carrying out raids in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh in connection with the Kerala fire case.

The raids are taking place after it came to light that the main accused in the case, Sharukh Saifi hails from Shaheen Bagh. A source tells OneIndia that the raids are primary aimed at identifying Saif's associates. The investigations had suggested that the accused may have not acted on his own. He may have been coerced to set the train's compartment on fire. Furthermore, his diary entries revealed that he had many more targets set.

On April 2, Saifi had set ablaze a train's compartment in Kerala in which three persons had died. It was found by the police that the incident was part of a planned conspiracy by a group with possible terror links.

Central Intelligence agencies said that Saifi had purchased four lites of petrol in Palakkadin Kerala, which is just a kilometre away from the railway station. On April 2, just an hour before the attack, Saifi had purchased the petrol and had carried it with him in two bottles, an official in the know of the developments said.

Saifi is said to have left from Delhi on a train to Kerala and then spent nearly 12 hours in Palakkad, during which he arranged for the logistics, a source said.

The NIA later took over the probe. The agency learnt that Saifi may have not acted on his own. He may have got local support too. Footage retrieved by the investigation agencies found that Saifi had taken an auto to reach the petrol pump.

While at first it was said that the incident took place following an altercation between Saifi and another passenger, later on it was found that no such thing happened. This led to the suspicion that the incident was clearly part of a larger conspiracy and was planned.

Saifi, a resident of Shaheen Bagh in Delhi was first arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad of Maharashtra, following inputs by the Kerala Police and the Intelligence Bureau. He was then taken to Kozhikode for interrogation. Later on, he was charged for murder.

Saifi has been a difficult person to crack as it continues to remain elusive. While admitting to the fact that he did indeed carry out the attack, he remains mum till date on whether he had acted on his own or was told by someone to carry out the attack.