Gujarat Police arrest an accused in Godhra train fire case after 16 years

Gujarat Jan 30: The Gujarat police on Tuesday have arrested an accused in 2002 Godhra train fire incident after he was absconding for 16 years.Police officials have said that "Yakub Pataliya (63) was arrested from Godhra by a team of B Division police in the town after they received a tip-off that he was spotted in a locality this morning."

"During patrolling, a team of Godhra B Division police received information about the presence of the accused. He was arrested soon after," the official said.He will be handed over to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is investigating the case." official added.

Sources said that "Pataliya is accused of being a part of the mob that torched the coaches of Sabarmati Express near Godhra railway station on February 27, 2002, killing 59 kar sevaks and triggering state-wide riots."

"He had been evading arrest ever since," police said.