National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sent Shahrukh Saifi, accused of the Kozhikode’s Elathur train attack case, to judicial custody till May 27. The NIA conducted raids in Delhi in connection with the attack, looking for other suspects connected to the case. The district session court in Kozhikode has charged Saifi with murder charges under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. The NIA invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, as the attack involved multiple states, and the agency suspects Saifi was sent to Kerala by his handlers. The NIA is investigating the larger conspiracy and the influence of Islamic evangelist Zakir Naik in the attack. Officials have said that there was a pre-planned conspiracy behind the attack, and Saifi had confessed to this.
National Investigation Agency Sends Accused in Kerala Train Attack to Judicial Custody
The Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sent Shahrukh Saifi to judicial custody till May 27 in connection with the April 2 Kozhikode’s Elathur train attack case. Saifi was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra police and Central Intelligence after the train arson attack case. He had also suffered injuries in the attack.
Accused Charged with Murder by District Session Court in Kozhikode
Saifi was charged with murder in a case filed by the railway police under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code by a district session court in Kozhikode. As per officials, there was a pre-planned conspiracy behind the attack, and that it wasn’t a single man mission, Saifi had confessed.
NIA Takes Over Case from Kerala Police
According to ANI, the NIA took over the case from Kerala Police in mid-April following an order issued by the Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalization (CTCR) division under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). As it was a clear case of terror involving many states, the NIA invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act based on doubts that the accused was sent to the state by his handlers and he got enough local help.
Pre-Planned Conspiracy Behind Train Attack, Says Official
Officials claim that there was a pre-planned conspiracy behind the attack, and that it wasn’t a single man mission, as Saifi had confessed. The NIA is investigating the larger conspiracy as part of which Saifi, assessed by Kerala police to be “highly radicalised” and influenced by inflammatory speeches of Islamic evangelist Zakir Naik, planned and executed the act of arson.
Accused Influenced by Zakir Naik, Planned and Executed Arson
Saifi, a native of Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra police and Central Intelligence after the train arson attack case. At the time of interrogation by a special investigation team (SIT), Saifi provided contradictory statements in which initially, he had said he was being used by someone and later retracted saying everything was planned and executed by him only. He was assessed by Kerala police to be “highly radicalised” and influenced by inflammatory speeches of Islamic evangelist Zakir Naik.
NIA Conducts Searches in Delhi in Connection with Attack
On Thursday, the NIA conducted searches at 10 locations in Delhi in connection with the train attack. Raids were carried out at Shaheen Bagh and other locations, according to an ANI report.
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