After 19 Years Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, Prime Accused in Godhra Train Massacre Arrested

SURAT: In the latest development of the age-old Sabarmati Express burning case, Gujrat police have nabbed the prime accused of the ghastly incident after 19 long years.

According to reports, the prime accused identified as Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk was behind the death of 59 karsevaks who were charred to death in the Sabarmati Express coach.

Meanwhile, Panchmahal Superintendent of Police Leena Patil speaking to the media said that the 51-year old Bhatuk who used to work as a labourer at Godhra railway station was part of the 'core group' of the culprits who hatched the entire conspiracy and was absconding from 19 years since the incident took place and was working as a labour in Delhi.

It is to be mentioned that in the horrifying incident that happened on February 27 in 2002, 59 karsevaks, including women and children were burnt alive and later inflated to communal riots in Gujarat.

Further, Leena Patil said that Bhatuk was the one who was involved in pelting stones on the compartment and pouring petrol inside it before setting it ablaze.

"After fleeing Godhra following the incident, Bhatuk spent most of his time in Delhi where he worked on railway stations and also at construction sites as a labourer. He also sold household items on a handcart", the SP said.

As part of his strategy to evade arrest, Bhatuk shifted his family from Sultan Falia, where he used to live before the Godhra incident, to Signal Falia recently, added the Superintendent.

"We recently learned that he had changed his house and visited his family in the past too. However, we couldn't catch him as he used to leave after a day or two. This time, our teams managed to catch him. We will hand him over to Godhra railway police for further investigation," said Patil.

Notably, three other accused related to the case- Salim Ibrahim Badam aka Salim Panwala, Shaukat Charkha, and Abdulmajid Yousuf Mitha is still absconding and believed to be sheltering in the neighbouring country, Pakistan.

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