Godhra train burning: Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrests Imran Batuk

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Wednesday arrested Imran Batuk, who is said to be an accused in the 2002 Godhra train burning case, from Malegaon.

Batuk was into illegal sand mining in Malegaon.

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had earlier on May 18 arrested Farooq Bhana, the main accused in the Godhra incident, which had triggered communal riots in the state.

Bhana, a corporator in Godhra when the incident took place, had moved to Mumbai to evade arrest.

Bhana, who was absconding since 2002, later became a property broker in Mumbai.

The ATS had last year arrested Kasam Ibrahim Bhamedi in connection with this case. Bhamedi was among those who pelted stones and broke the window panes of the S6 coach of Sabarmati Express before it was set ablaze in 2002.

Two other accused, Kadir Abdul Gani and Hussain Suleman Mohan, were last year arrested in this case.

On February 27, 2002, a mob had attacked the Sabarmati Express and had set it on fire. Nearly 60 passengers were killed in the incident.

The train attack had triggered widespread riots in Gujarat in which over 1,000 people were killed.