Kozhikode: In the wake of the preliminary report of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which does not rule out possible terror links in the Kozhikode train arson attack case, a decision will soon be made about handing over the case to the national agency. Reportedly, the Kerala police, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and NIA are of the assumption that the attack was planned and efforts are underway to find substantiating evidence. 

According to the NIA's preliminary report, a comprehensive investigation is necessary both inside and outside Kerala. The report was submitted by south zone DIG S Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar, who is in charge of NIA offices in Chennai, Kochi and Bengaluru. 

According to sources, even as the special investigation team led by ADGP MR Ajithkumar continues to question the accused, Shahrukh Saifi, after getting him in their custody on Friday, not much headway appears to have been made. If no progress is made within three days, then NIA is likely to take over the case. 

What has to be noted is that the Centre appears to be unhappy with the ongoing SIT probe. Union Minister V Muraleedharan slammed the Kerala Police for its "inefficiency" and said the only thing that the police did after the incident that took place on April 2 was to drive the culprit back to the state and that too without proper security arrangement from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra.

Incidentally, Saifi after setting ablaze a few passengers by dousing them with petrol in the moving train on April 2 night travelled on the same train to Kannur and after a few hours boarded another train from there and got down at Ratnagiri.

However, Saifi has told the SIT that he did not push anyone out of the train nor has he seen anyone jumping out of the train. He also added that he committed the crime alone and did not receive any outside aid. 

The SIT by now has been able to identify the petrol pump at Shornur where Saifi purchased petrol. He boarded the train there after several hours of being at Shornur.

What's to be noted is the central agencies right from the time of the incident have been on tenterhooks and it was their efforts which led to the arrest of Saifi from Ratnagiri by a team of the Anti-Terror Squad of the Maharashtra Police. Hence all eyes are on the next move of the NIA as the Kerala Police are yet to frame charges under sections of the UAPA.