The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recently intensified its security crackdown in the Kashmir region by attaching the properties of three accused individuals who are allegedly linked to banned Pakistan-based terrorist organizations. In a separate operation, the NIA conducted searches at 10 locations in and around the Shaheen Bagh area of New Delhi on Thursday, in connection with the Kozhikode train arson case. The arson attack resulted in the death of three passengers and left nine others injured.
The NIA’s searches covered the properties of accused individual Shahrukh Saifi and various other suspects. Saifi, a resident of Shaheen Bagh, was arrested on April 6, 2023, for committing the arson four days earlier, on April 2. He was charged with setting fire to the D1 coach of the Alleppey Kannur Executive Express, which led to the tragic death of a child and two others. The original FIR (No. 38/2023) was registered in the case at Kozhikode Railway Police Station in the state of Kerala. On April 17, the NIA took over the investigations.
During Thursday’s searches, the NIA seized a number of digital devices, including mobile phones, a laptop, and a hard disk, along with other documents. The agency’s probe thus far has revealed that Shahrukh Saifi was a follower of various radical Islamic preachers, including Zakir Naik, Pakistan-based Tariq Jamil, Israr Ahmed, and Taimoor Ahmed.
Despite the progress made in the investigation, the NIA is continuing to gather evidence and pursue leads related to the case. The search operation in Shaheen Bagh is just one of many steps the agency is taking to uncover the truth behind the Kozhikode train arson attack and bring those responsible to justice.
