Ahmedabad: Officials investigating the Godhra train carnage have said that some persons accused in the case are known to have connections with the underworld in Dubai.

Deputy inspector general of police (DIG) (crime) Rakesh Asthana said on February 21 that "Dubai connections" of some of those accused in the train carnage have emerged during the investigation.

"However, nothing more can be said at this stage," Asthana said.

Earlier, Maulvi Hussain Umarji, allegedly the "prime accused and mastermind" of the train carnage, had confessed to investigating officials regarding accepting money through hawala transactions from the Middle East.

Based on confession of another accused that Umarji had conspired the attack and promised to pay Rs 1,500 every month to each of the 11 persons to execute the carnage, Godhra police had arrested the top cleric of Godhra.

Asthana said that several of the accused are still absconding.

Gujarat government on February 19 invoked the anti-terrorist law Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) against 121 persons accused in the carnage where 59 Ramsevaks were burnt alive after a mob of more than 2,000 persons stoned and set ablaze the S- 6 coach of Sabarmati Express just outside Godhra railway station.

PTI