3 Killed After Unidentified Man Pours Petrol On Passengers, Sets Them Afire On Kerela Train

KERELA: On the Kannur Express in Kerala, an unidentified assailant doused other passengers in petrol and set them ablaze, leaving three people—including a child—dead and eight others with burn injuries. On the railroad tracks, the bodies of Sahramath, her aunt M. Rehmat, and fish vendor M. Noufeeq were found. 

According to police speculation, the three may have jumped from the speeding train in a fit of fright after being set ablaze. All three of them suffered head wounds. The two injured people's conditions, according to doctors, are critical. 

An eyewitness reported that shortly after the train came to a stop, the suspect, who was dressed in a red shirt and jeans, leaped out and ran away. Further commotion was caused as the train came to a stop on a bridge over the Korapuzha river. 

"There was complete confusion, and people began to rush and scream for assistance. We initially believed the suspect was simply spraying water, but soon we detected the aroma of gasoline. He started the fire before we had a chance to react”, according to passenger P Ratheesh.

As the train hit on the bridge, several of the passengers, according to him, warned the others not to jump out in a fit of fright. Another traveller reported that the suspect had been hanging around the train before he began dousing fellow travellers in gasoline. 

The second passenger reported, "He sparked the fire with a lighter in a matter of seconds. The incident happened between Elathur and Koyilandi railway stations at around 9.30 p.m., when the train was travelling at a fast pace”, he continued, adding that the suspect also sustained burn injuries. 

According to a police official, they believe it was a carefully planned and carried out criminal crime. "The spot on the bridge was picked to cause the most harm. A sizable fuel reserve is also located next to the railway track in Elathur. At this time, we are not ruling out a potential terrorist connection," the police official who wished to remain anonymous stated. 

The occurrence was described as horrific by the chief minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, who also announced the formation of a special inquiry team under the direction of police chief Anil Kant. "The state administration will take the necessary steps to protect rail passengers' safety. Also, we have requested that the railway ministry tighten security inside trains and at stations.

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