Kozhikode train fire: Police release sketch of suspect

Kozhikode: The police released a sketch of the man suspected to have set his co-passenger on fire aboard a running train in Kozhikode. The drawing was prepared at the Elathoor police station with the help of Razak, a crucial witness in the case.

There are reports that a man who resembled the one in the sketch sought treatment at the Kannur District Hospital. Police arrived at the hospital and collected details. 

The police had earlier released the CCTV footage of the suspect. These were captured in the CCTV camera of a church in Kattilapeedika at 11.30 pm on Sunday.

The footage shows a youngster wearing a red shirt and pants walking through a bylane and waiting near the main road.

There is also the visual of him getting on a bike and leaving the premise. The train passengers said on Sunday that the assailant is a red shirt and black plant-clad lean man.

The incident on Sunday night happened inside the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express train's D1 coach. The suspect, whom the police doubt to be from UP, is accused of setting his co-passenger on fire. He poured petrol into the coach and lit it on fire. The incident also resulted in the death of three others including a woman and an infant and injured nine others.

Special team for investigation
State police chief Anil Kanth said that the incident will be investigated by a special team. The Home Department and the national investigative agencies, along with the Railways, have asked the state for details on the incident. K Muraleedharan MP said in the Parliament that the incident should be investigated by the Central Government.