Kozhikode: The Anti Terrorism Squad of Maharashtra on Wednesday caught Shahrukh Saifi, suspected of sprinkling petrol on passengers and setting them on fire in the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express. As per the latest reports, Maharashtra ATS has handed over him to Kerala police.

Saifi was reportedly picked up from a hospital in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri where he was undergoing treatment for burns he suffered during the arson attack on the moving train on April 2.

Maharashtra police nabbed him after receiving a tip-off from the people who spotted him.According to reports, the Anti-Terrorism Squad officials of Kerala will reach Maharashtra soon. 

Suspect in custody, confirms railway minister
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the suspect was nabbed in a joint operation of police,RPF and NIA.

“The person who committed this heinous crime has been apprehended in Ratnagiri of Maharashtra. I thank the Maharashtra govt, their police and RPF and NIA who have apprehended him this quickly,” the railway minister told media here on Wednesday.

His involvement in the case will be confirmed only after the probe team from Kerala questions him.

According to reports, the suspect will be taken to Kerala for further probe.

On Sunday night, nine passengers in Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express were injured after a co-passenger poured petrol on them when the train reached Korapuzha bridge near Elathur. The bodies of a woman, an infant, and a man, who went missing from the train after the fire, were recovered from the tracks near the Elathur railway station, late on Sunday night. Police believe they fell off the train or attempted to get down after seeing the fire.

SIT formed by the Kerala Police conducted a forensic examination inside the coaches and collected evidence. Police also released a computer-generated sketch of the suspect and forwarded it to all police stations across India. This move has turned crucial in nabbing the suspect.