Thiruvananthapuram: National Investigation Agency and Intelligence Bureau confirmed terror links behind the arson attack on a train in Elathur, which claimed the lives of three persons and left 9 injured. 

The central investigation agencies have reported that Shahrukh Saifi, the suspect from Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, did not travel to Kerala alone. Rather, he was brought to Kerala with the intention of carrying out a massive attack by setting fire to an entire train bogie.

The Intelligence Bureau has obtained major information regarding the attack, which were referred by the NIA for a preliminary probe from their part. 

Reports suggest that a large group has influenced the suspect with terrorist ideologies and encouraged him to commit the crime. Similarly, he received all the necessary support to carry out the arson attack. The central agencies suspect a conspiracy behind the choice of Kerala and the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express as the target of the attack.

The investigation team claimed that the suspect was supposed to set ablaze an entire compartment of the train. For this, he had kept three bottles of petrol with him. However, lack of training resulted in the failure of the plan, said officials. 

Shahrukh had also received help to escape from the state after committing the crime. 

Meanwhile, central agencies have accused the Kerala Police of serious lapses in their handling of the case. The state government and police department have not yet made a decision on whether to transfer the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The state police have stated that they will only forward the case to the NIA after a detailed interrogation of Shahrukh to confirm any terrorist links. However, the NIA has decided to submit the case reports to the Union Home Ministry if there are any delays in forwarding the case to the central agency. If necessary, the Ministry of Home Affairs may directly transfer the case to the NIA.