Thiruvananthpuram, April 03:  In a shocking development, an unidentified man poured inflammable oil on his co-passenger passengers aboard an express train and set them on fire inside the moving Alapuzha-Kannur Express near Elathoor in Kozhikode in Kerala. The incident took place around 9.30 PM on Sunday (April 03).

 

 

As per the reports, eight people got sustained burn injuries. People who sustained burn injuries in the incident have been shifted to the hospital by the RPF.

 

Apart from it, three bodies, including that of an infant, were later recovered from the railway tracks as police suspect that they may have jumped out of the moving train in panic. Two of the deceased have been identified as Toufiq and Rehana.

 

According to railway sources, the suspect, who is yet to be identified, managed to escape when the train slowed down after passengers pulled the emergency chain. The fire was quickly doused by the other passengers, who alerted the Railway Protection Force (RPF).

 

 

 

Kerala Police has released a sketch of the absconding accused. Police said CCTV visuals are also being scanned.

 

While talking about the case, Kerala DGP Anil Kant said that, we cannot rule out the Maoist or terror angle as of now, and that the police are checking the incidents from all angles. It should be pointed out that this spine-chilling incident comes at a time when G20 delegates are in Kerala.

 

Police sources said that the suspected modus operandi involved and materials recovered from a bag found on the rail tracks were leading to suspicions that it was a planned attack by a non-Malayali. The bag contained a bottle of petrol, a mobile phone, a notebook in which notes were written in English and Hindi, some dress and eatables.

.

.