Kerala train fire suspect is resident of Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh; cops visit house, question parents

Meanwhile, a team from Kerala Police on Wednesday visited Saifi’s home in Shaheen Bagh. The Delhi Police confirmed the police visit. His father told the police he was last seen on March 31.

“Searches were conducted at his home but nothing was found. His father was questioned. He said his son left the house saying he was going to work but didn’t return. The family tried calling him but his phone was switched off. Later, they lodged a missing persons report on April 2. The agencies have arrested Shahrukh. His parents said they don’t know anything about the case,” said an officer who wished to remain anonymous.

On Monday, the Uttar Pradesh ATS caught another man named Shahrukh Saifi from the Bulandshahr’s Siyana. He is also a carpenter. He and his family said he was questioned for hours and later released.

On April 2 night, an unidentified man entered a Kannur-bound Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express, sprayed an inflammable liquid on passengers, and set them on fire, leaving three people, who tried to escape by jumping off the train, dead. While the accused managed to escape, the police recovered a bag, a few writings in Hindi, and a phone linked to a person from Uttar Pradesh.

After the incident, the Kerala Police had prepared a sketch of the suspect with the help of a witness. The police had also formed multiple teams and were coordinating with their counterparts in various states, such as UP, Maharashtra, and also the national capital.