Train arson attack: NIA team to conduct second probe in Kannur

Kannur: A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to conduct a second probe into the Elathur arson attack case in Kannur. The team will reach Kannur and will be accompanied by the accused Shahrukh Saifi to gather information regarding his stay in the district and potential terrorist links related to the case.

Previously, a three-member NIA team had visited the district two days after the attack, which occurred inside a compartment of the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express on April 2. The attack resulted in the deaths of three passengers and multiple injuries. During this initial visit, officials from the NIA's Kochi and Bengaluru offices had inspected the two bogies affected by the attack.

The national agency had collected evidence of Shahrukh’s visit to Shoranur and from where he bought petrol. In the upcoming visit, the investigating team will probe over the suspect’s activities in Kannur, including how he escaped after the crime. 

According to reports, Shahrukh had travelled in the same train till Kannur. The previous investigation had collected the CCTV visuals of a person similar to the suspect having tea from a stall in the first platform of the Kannur railway station. The NIA team has to confirm this and collect more CCTV footage along with the statements of the railway officials. 

The team will also investigate how the emergency brakes of the five compartments were pulled at the same time and the involvement of any other suspects in the crime.