Rafik Bhatuk, prime accused In Godhra train burning case, held by Gujarat Police after 19 years
February 16, 2021
Vadodara: Rafik Bhatuk, a prime accused in the 2002 Godhra Sabarmati Express massacre, has been nabbed by Gujarat police after absconding for over 19 years. Bhatuk had recently returned to the state after staying outside for a considerable period of time. He has been one of the prime accused of dosing the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express with petrol before it was set ablaze by others, which resulted in the gruesome death of 59 karsevaks who were returning from Ayodhya.
He was nabbed by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Panchmahal police along with the Godhra town police in the Signal Falia locality last Friday (12 February).
“We have arrested the prime accused in 2002 Godhra train burning case after 19 years. He was working at different construction sites in Delhi,” Dr Leena Patil, SP of Panchmahal was quoted by ANI as saying.
Bhatuk was a resident of the Mohammadi Mohalla in Godhra at the time of the incident but he shifted to Signal Falia later on. He was fleeing after being named an accused in this case and stayed in Delhi among other places in the meanwhile.
Reportedly, there are three other prime accused who are yet to be arrested. Salim Panwala and Shaukat Charkha are two of them. However, the duo is believed to be in Pakistan currently and a Red Corner Notice has been registered against them.
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