The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala Police that initially probed the Kozhikode train arson case handed over the case diary and related files with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday. The NIA officers secured the files from Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) P. Vikraman, who headed the probe.
It was on April 18 that the NIA registered a fresh case based on the Union Home Ministry’s directive. Subsequently, State Police Chief Anil Kanth issued an order to the SIT to hand over the case details to NIA and cooperate with the further investigation.
The NIA probe was recommended into the incident soon after the suspected arsonist, Shahrukh Saifi, was charged under Section 16 (punishment for terrorist Act) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by the Kerala Police. The 26-year-old from Shaheen Bagh was booked under UAPA based on the evidence they reportedly gathered about his highly radicalised life in his village.
