Man sprays petrol and sets fire on woman passenger in moving train in Kerala; 3 died, 8 injured

Three people, including a mother and a one-year-old infant, were discovered dead on the tracks close to the Elathur train station. Eight people, including women, were injured on Sunday when a man sprayed petrol at passengers in a moving train in Kerala`s Kozhikode and then, ignited it, police said.

The bodies of a woman, a child, and a man were found on the tracks late on Sunday night, according to a senior police official from the area who spoke to PTI.

After the Sunday fire incident, the three were reported missing from the train, he continued.

The incident took place in the D1 bogey of the Executive Express going from Alappuzha to Kannur.

Earlier reports had said that the accused had poured petrol over a woman and set her afire, after a clash with some passengers, including the woman.

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According to Latheesh, who was in the D1 coach, a person, wearing a red shirt, sprayed the petrol and then lit a match. This resulted in a fire breaking out in the coach, which left at least eight people injured.

Some of the injured were identified as Prakash, Ruby, and Jyothindranath, all said to be alumni of Kannur government engineering college. The names of the other injured were not available at the present.

Police are searching for the culprit who has escaped in the commotion following the blaze.

According to a senior police officer, the investigation is now focused on the person who had randomly attacked the passengers. The officer said that this was a serious issue and that the reason for his attack is not clear.