The man, Farooq Bhana, allegedly masterminded the whole incident of burning Sabarmati Express train at Godhra Railway Station on February 27, 2002 which killed 59 people and triggered the widespread riots in the city on the next day in which over 1,000 people were killed, was arrested today by the Gujarat Anti-terrorist Squad (ATS).

Bhana, who was absconding since 14 years, has allegedly arranged all the meetings and prepared the plan to burn the train. He held a meeting at Aman guest house in Phoolan Bazar, adjacent to Godhra railway station, nearly 125 km from the city, according to the officials.

“Bhana, an ex corporator of Godhra municipality, was arrested from Kalol in Panchmahal district where “a clandestine meeting with his family members was to be held.” Said Superintendent of Police (ATS) Himanshu Shukla.

The officials further added, “Bhana had told in the meeting that the Sabarmati Express will be late and instead of 2 AM it would reach at 7 AM. He part of the conspiracy behind burning the train for which 140 liters of petrol was procured following the meeting at the guest house.”

Now, he will be handed over to the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) who investigated the matter.

Farooq Bhana is among the four absconding accused in the case. In 2011, 31 people were convicted by the special court in the Sabarmati Express Burning case and 63 were acquitted. Among the 31, 11 were sentenced to death and 20 were given to life imprisonment.

The convicts now have challenged the decision in the High court and the judgment is awaiting.

Kasam Ibrahim Bhamedi, who pelted stones at the Sabarmati Express on the day and broke windows panes of the S6 coach of the train before it was burned by the mob, was arrested by the ATS.

By Prajakt K.