Ernakulam: The trial for the Elathur train arson case is scheduled to commence in January, with Shahrukh Saifi, a resident of Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, identified as the main accused. According to the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) charge sheet filed at the Kochi NIA court in late September, Shahrukh’s actions are classified as terrorist acts.
The charge sheet emphasizes that the primary objective of the attack was to instill fear among the people. It further reveals that Shahrukh regularly watched contents from controversial religious preachers in Pakistan through online platforms. Despite initial suspicions of a broader network, the detailed investigation conducted by the NIA focused solely on Shahrukh as the accused, with an additional inquiry conducted in Delhi.
The incident, which occurred on the night of April 2, involved an arson attack on the Executive Express at Elathur in Kozhikode, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. The case was initially investigated by the Railway police, but it was later taken over by the NIA. Key eyewitnesses present on the train during the incident will testify during the trial, and the prosecution will rely on scientific evidence to build its case.
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