It has been revealed that there was a serious security lapse in bringing Shahrukh Saifi, the accused in the train burning case, to Kerala. Despite being suspected of having terrorist links, the suspect was brought 810 km by road without adequate security. The Kerala Police Anti-Terrorism Squad attempted to secretly bring the suspect to Kozhikode, but their plans were thwarted when the vehicle’s tire burst and they were left stranded on the road without any backup.
The original plan was to bring the accused by air, but due to the exorbitant cost of airfare, it was decided to travel by road. The ATS team, consisting of a driver and three police officers, started their journey from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra in two private vehicles – an Innova and a Fortuner. While on their way from Kannur to Kozhikode, they lost their way and the Fortuner ran into trouble.
When the vehicle broke down, the team was stranded without any protection or backup. They had to wait for more than an hour before another vehicle arrived to rescue them. The incident has raised serious questions regarding the lack of security measures in place to protect the accused and the police officers involved in the operation.
It is concerning that there was no mechanism to stop the accused if he had tried to escape or if there had been an attack or an accident during the journey. The journey with the accused was made in a small car, which was not only uncomfortable but also dangerous. The special branch has given a report stating that there was a lapse on the part of the ATS officials, and the incidents on the way were an embarrassment to the Kerala Police itself.
Overall, the incident highlights the need for better security measures and protocols to be put in place when transporting high-profile suspects like Shahrukh Saifi.
Kasaragod ∙ There was a serious security lapse in bringing Shahrukh Saifi, the accused in the case of burning train passengers, to Kerala. The suspect, who is even suspected of having terrorist links, was brought 810 km by road without much security. An attempt by the Kerala Police Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) to secretly bring the suspect to Kozhikode failed when the vehicle’s tire burst and lay on the road.
Initially, it was planned to bring the accused by air, but when it was seen that 6 people would need 88,000 rupees as air fare, the journey was made by road. The driver and 3 police officers were in the ATS team that brought the accused to Kerala. There were no other vehicles or personnel to protect their vehicle.
The group started their journey from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra in Innova. As the footage of this spread, the Fortuner moved to Thalappadi near the Karnataka-Kerala border. Both were private vehicles.
While traveling from Kannur to Kozhikode, the group lost its way and reached Katachira on the Koothuparam Road. Fortuner’s tire got punctured at Katachira and lay on the road. The locals gathered around.
After being informed by the Special Branch, a police team from Edakkad station reached the spot but did not use their vehicle. For more than an hour, the ATS team lay in the middle of the road with the accused in the case that gained national attention.
Subsequently, the bolero brought from Kannur AR camp also got damaged when it reached Katachira. When it might not be used, the ATS team intervened and continued their journey to Kozhikode in a private WagonR car.
No travel information was given in any police station in Kerala. The police tried to hide the suspect from the media. It is clear that there was no mechanism to stop the accused if he tried to pass or there was an attack or an accident during the journey. The journey with the accused was fast in a small car. This was also dangerous.
The special branch has given a report that there was a lapse on the part of the ATS officials in the incident and the incidents on the way were an embarrassment to the Kerala Police itself. An official of the team said that it was chosen because it was a practical road for the Ratnagiri-Kozhikode journey.
English Summary: Kozhikode train fire accused Shahrukh Saifi brought to kerala in private car
The failure to properly secure accused train arsonist Shahrukh Saifi during his transport to Kerala is a serious security lapse. Despite suspicions of terrorist links, Saifi was driven over 800 kilometers without proper protection or backup personnel. The journey was planned to be done by air, but ultimately a private vehicle was used due to cost concerns. The car suffered a tire puncture during the journey, leading to a delay and vulnerability to local onlookers. There was no official record of the travel arrangements, and attempts were made to keep the suspect hidden from the media. The incident calls into question the preparedness and organization of the Kerala police, and highlights the dangers of insufficient security measures in high-profile cases.