Godhra train carnage: After 14 years, mastermind nabbed by Gujarat ATS

After giving police a slip for 14 years , alleged mastermind of the  Godhra attack Farooq Bhana has been nabbed by Gujarat ATS,reports The Indian Express. 

On February 27, 2002 Sabarmati Express was set afire in Godhra, about 125km from Ahmedabad,killing 59 passengers. The ghastly train attack had triggered widespread riots in Gujarat in which over 1,000 people were  killed.

According to the report, Bhana was picked up from Kalol in Panchmahal district, where he was secretly meeting his relatives. According to ATS officials, Bhana held a meeting at a guest  house nearby Godhra station where exact timing of the train was  shared and decision on procuring 140 litres of petrol was taken. Gujarat ATS will hand over main accused Bhana to SC appointed SIT. 

4 of the absconding accused were caught last year by ATS and now Bhana who was the alleged mastermind has been taken to custody. 

In 2011, a special court in regard to the case pronounced death sentence to 11 people and life time imprisonment to 20. 63 people were acquitted in this case. The convicts have filed an appeal in the Gujarat High Court against the trial court's order. The verdict is awaited.

With agency inputs