A year after the shocking Elathur train arson that claimed three lives, the persons initially suspected of helping prime accused Shahrukh Saifi in executing the terror act on April 2, 2023 still remain untraced.
Though the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which took over the probe into the incident from the Kerala Police, submitted the chargesheet six months ago, there was no reference to others, with the final assumption that the accused acted alone.
The NIA probe was recommended as the 26-year-old accused was booked under Section 16 (punishment for terrorist act) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UAPA] by the Kerala Police. Incriminating pieces of evidence gathered against his allegedly radicalised life in his hometown and its connections with the train arson were instrumental in invoking the grave UAPA sections.
