Kannur train fire accused executed the act alone without any help, kannur train fire, kannur railway station

04 June 2023, 12:23 PM IST

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The empty railway coach that was set on fire at Kannur railway station. (Photo: Mathrubhumi)

Kannur: Police confirmed that Pransonjith, a native of West Bengal who was apprehended in connection with the train fire incident in Kannur, acted alone without any external assistance. The perpetrator executed the act entirely on his own. The police intend to get custody of the culprit, who has been remanded, to obtain additional information regarding the incident.

Pransonjith, was arrested within a few hours, from the Kannur railway station premises, after he had set an empty coach of Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express (16307) on fire, last week.

As per the statements given to the police, Prasonjith had arrived in Kannur railway station, a day before the incident. He was hungry and depressed, and apparently engaged in the destructive act to vent his frustration.

Prasonjith had moved to the eighth lane of the railway yard on June 1 midnight, after he was shooed away by a security guard at BPCL storage facility beside the station. He entered the coach through one of its doors, broke the mirrors and glasses inside the compartment using a stone, and ripped apart the seat covers as well.

The culprit, who was a chain smoker, used the lighter in his possession to set fire on the sponge material inside the seats. After a series of failed attempts, he finally accomplished his ‘task’, before walking away from the spot. The whole coach was gutted in the resultant fire.

Post the act, he managed to get out of the station premises, and roamed meaninglessly on the streets, before falling asleep at the harbour. He was drained and hungry at that moment. He was caught around 9:30 AM on June 1.

The police investigating the case revealed further information saying that the miscreant had never used a mobile phone in his entire life. His four-member family in Bengal was run by his father. Prasonjith was apparently struggling to find a job.

Security lapse

The incident points to a serious security lapse from the side of the railway officials. As per the rules, they are supposed to lock all the doors of the coaches, if the train is moved to the dockyard. However, in this particular case, CCTV visuals clearly suggest that the door of the railway coach wasn’t locked.