Kerala train arson accused is Zakir Naik follower: Police

Three passengers, including a minor, died trying to escape and eight suffered injuries.

Additional Director General of Police M R Ajith Kumar, who is heading the special investigation team in Kozhikode, told reporters that Saifi had been regularly following videos by Naik.

“Saifi had been constantly watching the videos of Naik. He is highly radicalized and he came to Kerala with the determination to commit the crime. We have gathered all evidence to connect him with the crime. He came from a place where people with radical views are living,” said the ADGP.

Investigators are yet to find the motive behind the incident. They have said that Saifi, a carpenter, arrived in Kerala’s Shoranur town from Delhi on April 2 and spent the day on the premises of the railway station until boarding the train. In the meantime, investigators said, he filled empty bottles with fuel from an outlet at Shornur.

The ADGP said: “He had a clear plan to commit arson. The probe is still continuing to ascertain whether he has got any local support for the crime. We have so far gathered all details with regard to his journey from Delhi to Kerala in Kozhikode and his movement to Ratnagiri in Maharashtra after the crime,’’ he said.

Saifi was arrested from Ratnagiri district on April 5.

The ADGP said they are investigating whether he received support from any extremist outfits in Kerala or elsewhere in the country.

Under Section 16 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, which Saifi was charged under, acts of terror leading to loss of life are punishable with death or life imprisonment.

Police had earlier registered a murder case against Saifi and also invoked Sections 326A (causing grievous hurt by use of acid etc), 436 (mischief by fire and explosive substances), 438 (attempt to commit mischief by fire or explosives) of the Indian Penal Code, besides Section 151 (damaging railway property) of the Indian Railways Act.

On April 2, Saifi allegedly splashed passengers of the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express with an inflammable substance, later identified as petrol, and started a fire.

Last week, police took Saifi to Kannur, where two coaches of the train have been kept for collection of evidence. With his police custody set to end on April 18, police are also expected to take Saifi to Elathur, where the incident occurred.