Godhra: In a significant development, Railway police on February 6 arrested Maulana Hussain Umarji, allegedly the main conspirator behind last year's Godhra carnage.

Umarji, a religious priest holding top-most position in Godhra, was arrested at Signal Falia in the wee hours for allegedly being involved in the burning of the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express on February 27 last year in which 59 'kar sevaks' were killed, Railway police sources said. The police action followed after one of the Godhra accused Zabir Behra, arrested earlier, on February 5 made a confessional statement before the chief judicial magistrate naming the religious head as the main conspirator for the carnage, the sources said.

According to Behra's confession, Umarji provoked about 12 Muslim youth, including Behra, and providing information that 'kar sevaks' were returning in Sabarmati Express, planned to attack them, the sources added.

Umarjee will be produced in the Godhra court for police remand, railway police officials, who are investigating the carnage, said.

Meanwhile, district superintendent of police Panchmahals N Komar said over phone that there was no tension in the Muslim dominated areas of Signal Falia after Umarjee's arrest.

PTI