Another Godhra Train Carnage Accused Arrested After 13 Years

Ahmedabad: On the run for more than 13 years, another accused in 2002 Godhra train attack that had triggered communal riots was arrested on Monday by Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in the third arrest of an absconding accused in the case in less than a fortnight.

Kasam Ibrahim Bhamedi, a resident of Ragadia in Godhra, was apprehended from Dahod railway station, about 200 km from Ahmedabad, ATS officials said.

Bhamedi, 53, is the third absconding accused to be arrested in less than a fortnight for the horrific incident in Godhra, about 125 km from Ahmedabad, where Sabarmati Express was set afire on February 27, 2002, by a mob killing 59 passengers.

The ghastly train attack had triggered widespread riots in Gujarat in which over 1,000 people were killed.

According to the officials, Bhamedi had been hiding at various places across the country since 2002 by concealing his real identity.

Advertisement

Recently, officials learnt that Bhamedi is in Madhya Pradesh, where he went with a religious group.

"We have been tracking his movements since the last one month and we learnt that he will enter Gujarat from Madhya Pradesh by train. Based on that tip-off, we kept a watch at Dahod station today and nabbed him as soon as he arrived," said ATS Inspector BM Karatiya.

Advertisement

According to ATS, Bhamedi was part of a mob which pelted stones at and broke window panes of the S6 coach of Sabarmati Express before it was set ablaze.

Bhamedi was later brought to the city by ATS, which handed him over to Gujarat Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) handling the Godhra train fire for questioning.

Advertisement

On July 16, local Crime Branch (LCB) officials of Godhra had nabbed Kadir Abdul Gani, one of the accused, from the town.

On July 23, Godhra LCB rounded up another wanted accused Hussain Suleman Mohan from Jhabua in MP.