Tuesday, June 28 2005 11:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: In a major catch, a key accused in the Godhra train carnage was arrested in the wee hours from Godhra town, official sources said in Ahmedabad today (Jun 8, 2005).

"Irfan Abdul Majid Kalandar alias Bhobho, a 'core group' member that torched the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati express train has been arrested today morning following a tip-off. He will be produced before the court for police remand," Deputy Inspector General of Police Rakesh Asthana told sources.

With this the police has arrested 107 persons in connection with the train carnage, where 59 kar sevaks were killed on February 27, 2002.

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Kalandar, a resident of Satpol area of the town, has been on the run since the incident and the Gujarat police had formed a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to nab the accused persons and investigate the case.

The SIT claims that most of the core group members have been arrested including the key-conspirator, a Godhra-based cleric Maulvi Hussain Umarji.

The SIT and the anti-dacoity squad of the Godhra police have arrested several of the absconding accused periodically but one of the key-accused Salim Panwala is yet to be nabbed.

Gujarat Government is trying to conduct the trial of the Godhra train carnage case under Prevention of Terrorism (POTA) and has booked all the 131 odd accused persons under the anti-terrorism law.