NIA searches Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh in Kozhikode train arson case

The NIA searches the property of accused Shahrukh Saifi, a resident of Shaheen Bagh and allegedly a follower of radical Islamic preachers; mobile phones, laptop, hard disk, and documents seized during search

The National Investigation Agency has conducted raids in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh in connection with the Kozhikode train arson attack. Representational image of the NIA headquarters, in New Delhi. | Photo Credit: V. Sudershan

The National Investigation Agency on Thursday conducted searches at 10 locations in and around Shaheen Bagh in Delhi in connection with the Kozhikode train arson case. Three passengers were killed and nine injured in the incident on April 2.

Among the properties searched during the exercise were those of accused Shahrukh Saifi and various other suspects. Mr. Saifi, a resident of Shaheen Bagh, was arrested on April 6 for allegedly committing the arson.

During the searches, the agency seized several digital devices, including mobile phones, laptop and hard disk, along with documents.

The case was initially registered at the Kozhikode Railway police station. Mr. Saifi was charged with setting on fire the D-1 coach of the Alleppey Kannur Executive Express, which resulted in the death of a child and two others.

The NIA took over the investigations on April 17. According to the NIA, its probe so far has revealed that Mr. Saifi was a follower of various radical Islamic preachers, including Zakir Naik, Pakistan-based Tariq Jamil, Israr Ahamed and Taimoor Ahmed.

The crime took place on the night of April 2, when the train crossed Elathur station at Korappuzha bridge. The accused poured some inflammable liquid over the passengers and set them on fire with the intention to kill them. Fearing the worst, the passengers attempted to escape and three of them, including a child, jumped off the moving train, which led to their deaths.