Man resembling police sketch of Kerala train fire’s suspect spotted at Kannur hospital

On Monday, Kerala police released a sketch of the suspect who allegedly poured petrol on and set fire to his fellow passenger on the moving Alappuzha- Kannur Express train the day before.

According to officials, the Railway police searched for the accused at a government district hospital in Kannur. The search was conducted in response to a report that a person resembling the accused’s sketch released by police had sought treatment in a hospital on Sunday night.

The person who sought treatment at Kannur District Hospital, according to police, is not the suspect. The person seen at the hospital did not resemble the sketch of the suspect released by police based on CCTV footage, according to police.

At least eight other people were injured in the April 2 incident, and three people, including a one-year-old child and a woman, were discovered dead on the tracks near the Elathur railway station in the Kozhikode district of Kerala, hours after the fire.

The suspect, who has not been identified, remains at large. Earlier today, state police DGP Anil Kant told a press conference that a special investigation team had been formed to look into the incident.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has condemned the attack and directed police to conduct a thorough investigation.

“The attack is heartbreaking and shocking. Have ordered the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and present all details of the crime to the authorities. A special investigation team will be formed for this purpose. The police are working hard to apprehend the perpetrator. It is being overseen by the state police chief himself “Vijayan stated.