Bhubaneswar, Nov. 22: The special intelligence wing today took Ramachandran Subash, the main accused in the train fire incident at Puri railway station on November 12, in its custody for further interrogation.
The interrogation assumes significance, as the intelligence wing is questioning the 27-year-old accused to ascertain whether he is linked to any terrorist organisation. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) may also interrogate him to determine if he had any terrorist links.
Subash's frequent change of statements has puzzled the sleuths, said sources.
"He seems to be mentally unstable and we have gathered information about his illness from his native village in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district. We have learnt that he tried to commit suicide five years ago," said an intelligence official.
Later in the evening, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel from Mughalsarai interrogated Subash to determine his involvement in a similar incident there.
Earlier on Saturday, a local court in Puri had granted the Government Railway Police (GRP) permission to conduct a polygraph test of the accused.
Sources said that Subash would undergo the test at the state forensic laboratory in Bhubaneswar shortly.
GRP sources said that they would file a plea to extend the accused's remand period.
"We are yet to find out the identity of his associates who were believed to be present in Puri on the day of the incident. Besides, we are yet to get any concrete proof to rule out any links with terrorist organisations," said a GRP official. Subash's six-day remand ends on Monday.
Sources said that at least five persons were with Subash in Puri on the day of the incident.
"Though he has mentioned a few names, he is unable to give their identities," said a police official.
"What baffles us is that if he had any intention of a terrorist attack, why did he not set the train afire when passengers were sitting," said the official.
Two bogies of the New Delhi-Puri Nandankanan Express on platform No. 4 were gutted on November 12. The flames spread to two compartments of Tirupati-Puri Express at platform No. 2.
The fire subsequently engulfed a compartment of the Puri-Howrah Express at platform No. 6. However, there were no casualties.
