Prime accused in the infamous 2002 Godhra tragedy incident has been held by the police after 19 long years.
Prime accused Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk has been nabbed from Godhra town, the police informed.
51-years-old Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk was allegedly part of the “core group” of the accused persons involved in the entire conspiracy.
In 2002, a mob torched a coach of Sabarmati Express at Godhra station in Panchmahal district of Gujarat, leading to the death of 59 ‘karsevaks’.
Bhatuk was arrested following a raid at a house in Signal Falia area near the Godhra Railway Station.
Also read: India beat England by 317 runs in 2nd Test Match at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium
“We have arrested the prime accused in 2002 Godhra train burning case after 19 years. He was working at different construction sites in Delhi before returning back to Godhra,” SP of Panchmahal district – Dr Leena Patil informed.
“We will hand him over to Godhra railway police for further investigation,” informed SP Patil.
She said at least three accused — Salim Ibrahim Badam aka Salim Panwala, Shaukat Charkha and Abdulmajid Yousuf Mitha — still remain at large in this case.
It is believed that the trio had fled to Pakistan.