Kochi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday took over the probe into the Elathur train arson case.
An FIR was registered in the Kochi office of the agency. The agency has not sought the custody of the accused in the case so far.
The NIA will investigate the terrorism angle and probe the inter-state links of the accused in the case.
Shahrukh Saifi, the accused in the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express train arson case, has been charged with provisions under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act).
A report submitted in the court on Sunday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the attack on April 2 imposed the fresh charge against the resident of Shaheen Bagh.
The accused was earlier charged with murder as three persons, including a child, had allegedly jumped off the train after seeing the fire set by Saifi.
Nine people suffered burns in the attack that took place in the D1 compartment of the Executive Express after 9 pm near Elathur in Kozhikode.
Saifi has been accused of setting the compartment on fire after pouring petrol.
The accused who had fled from the scene was arrested two days later from Ratnagiri by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad.
