Kerala train arson: UAPA invoked against accused

Under Section 16 of UAPA, acts of terror that lead to loss of life are punishable with death or imprisonment for life.

The development came as the Special Investigation Team of the Kerala Police probing the arson case on Sunday submitted a report on the terror angle before the Additional Sessons court.

The police had earlier registered a case of murder 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, passengers of the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express were sprayed with an inflammable substance, which was later identified as petrol, and set on fire at Elathur town in Kozhikode. Three passengers died after jumping out of the train.

While investigators have yet to find the motive behind the incident, they have so far found that Saifi, a carpenter by profession, had allegedly landed at Shornur town in Kerala from Delhi on April 2 and spent the entire day on the premises of the railway station until boarding the train. In the meantime, investigators have said, he allegedly filled a few empty bottles with fuel from an outlet at Shornur.

While police suspect Saifi got logistic support in Kerala to execute the attack, they are yet to figure out the involvement of a second person who abetted the crime.

Last week, police had taken Saifi to Kannur, where the 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.