THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Suspicions that the fire inside a train in Kozhikode is part of a terrorist ploy on a train in Kozhikode are getting stronger. Maharashtra ATS has informed the Kerala Police that accused Shahrukh Saifi (24) may be a member of a sleeper cell of any terrorist organization. People with no criminal background are selected as sleeper cells for such missions. DGP Anil Kant, who met the media in Delhi, also did not rule out the terror link. UAPA may be charged against the accused.

Clarity on the incident can be attained only after quizzing Shahrukh, who is undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College due to jaundice.

The accused, who is a native of Delhi, came to Kerala and set fire to the train and escaped without being noticed, which points to the involvement of terrorists and helpers in Kerala.

The Korapuzha railway bridge and the deserted Elathur area were chosen for the attack, which might be deliberate. It is also being investigated whether Shahrukh was pushed from the train at Kalambani in Maharashtra after the mission failed.

Shahrukh gave a statement to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad that he set fire to the train on the instructions of someone, a person was with him from Kozhikode and that he acted on a person's advice to kill people to bring good times. He hasn't revealed the identity of these persons. He has told the Kerala police that he did everything on his own and had no accomplices.

The police do not believe the statement that Shahrukh went to Kozhikode alone and bought petrol to set the train on fire. Attempts are being made to check his six SIM cards and social media accounts to find out who he was in touch with.

There is also a strong suspicion that Shahrukh was converted to terrorist ideas by those with terrorist connections. His life style has changed since last June as he started living luxuriosly, which indicates more income. He gave up smoking and found more time for religious study and prayer. He also started his own YouTube channel. Although the channel showing carpentry has less audience, it is believed that the subversive forces may have contacted him through this platform. They are also checking whether there is a conspiracy in the complaint that he is missing.

It is estimated that the mission was to set the train on fire and create a disaster. There were three bottles of petrol in the bag. Only two bottles was used.

Questions to be answered

1) Whom all did he meet in Kozhikode? Where did the food in the bag come from?

2) From which pump did he buy the petrol? Was it petrol or other chemical substance in bottles?

3) How did he board the train from Kannur station without anyone noticing?

4) Who went to Kozhikode with him?

Mysterious notes

Suspicious notes in Hindi, Urdu and English in Shahrukh's diary was recovered from his Delhi home. The words 'Kurf' and 'Roshan Hoga' are could be secret codes.

There are words like 'DO IT' and 'LETS DO IT' in his diary. Names of some railway stations in Kerala including Thiruvananthapuram were also written in the book in his bag.