NIA to probe ‘terror link’ behind train burning in Odisha

NIA team to interrogate the arrested Tamil Nadu guy soon

BHUBANESWAR: After Odisha police had found suspected terror link in the train burning incident at Puri railway station, the state government on Thursday recommended the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe into the serial burning of three empty trains.

The police have arrested one Subhash Ramachandran from Tamil Nadu for setting ablaze three empty trains in Puri on November 11.

He has admitted to the police that a terror module was prepared in Mumbai by five terrorists to cause arson attacks in trains that connect to different pilgrim places.

He also claimed to have received lakhs of rupees from the seditious group to carry out the arson attack.

“Though we could not ascertain a terror link behind the serial train burning incidents, we don’t want to take any chance. There may be some terror link behind the crime. We have spoken to NIA authorities and written to them to take up the case,” said a senior police officer.

He said the NIA team would soon visit Odisha to interrogate the person and examine the case details.

Earlier in police custody, Ramachandran had said the terrorist outfit had serious plans to trigger arson attacks in trains in holy cities.

Police sources said he travelled with the five terrorists to Gaya, Haridwar and Kharagpur where they set ablaze some empty trains this month.

Ramachandran was assigned the task to set ablaze trains in Puri.

Ramachandran said he came in contact with five terrorists during Chennai train blast in May last year. The terrorist used him as he was in dire need of money, the officer said.