Godhra Riots: Main Accused Rafiq Hussain Arrested After 19 Years

Godhra Riots: main accused Rafiq Hussain arrested after 19 years, used to work at the station.

Police have arrested the man accused of the Godhara case after 19 years. Accused Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk was arrested from Godhra city.

Let me tell you that in the year 2002, a coach of the Sabarmati Express train was set on fire at Godhra station in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district. Rafiq was also included in this crowd.

It is alleged that Rafiq threw stones at the train coach first and then sprinkled petrol and set it on fire. 59 karsevaks were killed in this incident.

Panchmahal district Superintendent of Police Leena Patil said that Bhatuk, 51, was part of the main group of accused who were involved in the entire conspiracy. Bhatuk was absconding for the last nearly 19 years.

Patil told the news agency that on the basis of secret information, the Godhra police raided the house of Signal Falia near the railway station on Sunday night and arrested Bhatuk from there.

Involved in plotting

She said, ‘Bhatuk was part of the main group of accused who conspired, instigated the crowd, and arranged petrol to burn the train coach.

He fled to Delhi soon after the name surfaced during the investigation. There are many charges against him including murder and rioting.

There was a fire in the coach.

Let us tell you that 59 Karsevaks were killed in the Godhra carnage on 27 February 2002, after which large-scale communal riots broke out in Gujarat.

The Superintendent of Police said that Bhatuk was a laborer at Godhra railway station. He said, “He was involved in throwing stones at the coach and putting petrol in it, after which the other accused set the coach on fire.”

Used to work in Delhi.

Police said that after the Godhra incident Bhatuk came to Delhi. In Delhi, he worked as a laborer at a construction site near the railway station.

Apart from this, he also sold handicrafts and home salmon. Before the Godhra incident, he lived in the Sultan Palia area. After this, he shifted to another place.