Kannur : Railway Protection Force IG Eshawra Rao arrived in Kannur in connection with the train fire where an unidentified assailant entered the compartment of Alappuzha – Kannur Executive Express and set fire after drenghing passengers with petrol he brought. The incident is unfortunate; security at railway stations will be stepped to ensure such incidents don recur, said IG up on his arrival.
Police have launched hunt for a man named Sharukh Saifi, who is suspected to be the perpetrator. A team of Railway Police have reached Uttar Pradesh on trail and search has been intensified in Noida Ghazhiabad area. Police assume the arson was intentional and preplanned, and not a random act. Police are searching homes and lodges occupied by migrant labourers. The two coaches where the blaze occurred have been cordoned and parked on platform number four.
The Crime : An identified man walked into D1 compartment of Kannur Express from D2, late Sunday night close to 9.30 pm. He throew petrol on sleeping passengers and lit fire. Three, including a infant, jumped out of the train and died. Several others sustained burn injuries. The incident took place between Elathur and Kolandy in Kozhikode.
