One of main Godhra conspirators Farooq Bhano arrested

Ahmedabad

On the run for 14 years, the key accused in the 2002 Godhra train carnage, in which 59 kar sevaks were killed, was today arrested by the Gujarat ATS.

The train carnage had triggered widespread riots in the state.

An ATS official said that Farooq Mohammad Bhana was one of the key accused, who hatched the conspiracy to burn the train at Godhra Railway Station on February 27, 2002.

According to the Anti-Terrorism Squad officials, Bhana was a corporator in Godhra when the incident took place. To evade arrest, he then moved to Mumbai where he became a property broker.

“Based on a tip-off, we nabbed Bhana at a toll plaza near Kalol town of Panchmahal district when he was going to Godhra from Mumbai today. He was the key conspirator of Godhra carnage,” an ATS official said.

In the FIR, Bhana was charged with conspiracy to put the S-6 coach on fire during a meeting with others accused at the Aman Guest House near Godhra Railway Station.

He, along with another corporator Bilal Haji, allegedly instructed the others accused to put the train coach on fire as per the instruction received from Maulana Umerji, who was arrested as a mastermind behind the incident but was later released.

As many as 59 people had lost their lives when the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express was torched.The incident had triggered large scale riots in the state in which around 1,000 people were killed.

From police briefing:

ATS was trying for last one and half months to nab Farooq Bhana. After Godhra train incident Farooq and Samir Panwala had left Godhra for Mumbai and police was also suspecting that he had taken shelter in Pakitan. Red corner notice was issued against Bhana therefore. Later for last 6-7 years he was in Mumbai and was taking small-time contracts of BMC. Farooq was not visiting Godhra as he was aware about police search. As it was long time, he came to Godhra to meet family four-five times recently. Based on this information he could be nabbed on his one of recent visits. Bhana was earlier clean shaved but he had started growing beard for last some time in bid to hide his identity. Bhana will be handed over to investigation officer Mothalia. In last one year 3-4 Godhra train attack accused are held. 6 are yet to be nabbed. Of them names of three are not available while details of other 3-4 are available.

– DeshGujarat