Kozhikode : The arson on board Alappuzha - Kannur train Sunday night was meticulously planned for, says investigation team. Sharukh Saif selected D-1 compartment with clear aim.
Sharukh initially got into the D2 coach then moved to D1 to carry out the attack. He lit the fire in Korapuzha reagion in Elathur where strong wind from sea would rapidly spread even a minor flame. Moreover, the D1 compartment has C1 coach sitting right behind. CI being air-conditioned, is not ventilated and jas a lot of curtaining fabric.. Beside, the ‘silent killer’ namely carbonmonoxide would make it double fatal.
The assessment of fire spreading rapidly in coastal stretch was a well-marked strategy. It was sloppy handling of the execution part that made Sharuk abandon the bag behind - the contents of which trailed investigators straight to him in three days time after the crime.
The Deadly Arson : The gruesome incident took place Sunday night close to 9.30 pm when a stranger, now identified as Sharukh, emerged in D-1 bogie seemingly from the D-2 and threw petrol from a bottle on to the passengers and then lit a fire. He then fled the scene. Three, including a child, who jumped out of the running died. Nine others sustained burn injuries. The first of its kind incident in State sent shockwaves across public.
