BHUBANESWAR: Puri train coaches burning accused Ramachandran Subash’s polygraph test report has clinched his links with Riaz, said to be operative of a Mumbai terror module.
During the polygraph test on Monday, Subash confirmed his association with Riaz who is alleged to have contacts with a Pakistan-based outfit. The test report was submitted by State Forensic Science Laboratory to Government Railway Police on Thursday and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which is probing the case.
Sources said Subash was hired by the Mumbai module in exchange for money but torching the train coaches was his trial-run task. On November 12, he had set fire to an empty coach at Kharagpur railway station as part of the dry-run. He also set ablaze a godown and a hut at the same place. The same evening, Subash went on to torch at least five coaches of four trains at Puri.
He was also quizzed about low-intensity explosive materials used to start the fire but Subash is reported to have stated that the substance was supplied by his associates and not procured by him.
A forensic team of SFSL had earlier carried out investigation and found that a powdered substance was used to set the coaches on fire but failed to point out the exact material as the bogies had been badly torched before flames were extinguished by fire fighters leaving very little trace.
Meanwhile, the case has been transferred to Khurda District and Sessions Court by the Puri SDJM as a second case was registered with Bhubaneswar GRP. Subash will be shifted to Special Jail at Jharpada here. The NIA has already submitted application for transit remand of Subash and it is only a matter of time before he is taken to Delhi for further investigation.