Ahmedabad: In a sudden twist, a Godhra train carnage accused Zabir Bin Yamin Behra has retracted from his previous confessional statement and told the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court that his statement was recorded "forcefully".

Behra's "confessional statement" had led the Special Investigating Team (SIT), probing the Sabarmati Express train carnage, in which 59 Kar Sevaks were torched alive, to arrest the main conspirator Maulvi Hussain Umarji.

Behra, during a special sitting of the POTA court at the Sabarmati Central jail on August 27, retracted from his previous confessional statement recorded under Section 164 of CRPC and said "he had not said anything that was recorded in his name," public prosecutor appointed for POTA matters H M Dhruv said.

Dhruv, however, is confident that Behra's retraction would not affect the case as such.

"Since Behra has retracted from his previous confessional statement, it cannot be taken as an "admitted fact" even though it was recorded by a magistrate. It's (previous confessional statement) evidential value will be tested at the time of appreciation of evidence by the POTA court, Dhruv said.

PTI