The Kerala government on Monday asked the National Investigation Agency to probe the sabotage attempt on a passenger train in Nilambur last week. The airbrake pipes of the train were found to have been cut at 20 places on the morning of July 8. On the same day, a packet of explosives were also detected in the Vanchinad Express travelling from Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram. Both the incidents caused much alarm in the state.
Talking in the Assembly, the home minister, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, said it would be better if the NIA investigated the airbrake incident since it may have inter-state dimensions.
Though police has been proceeding with the investigation, there has not been much headway. Sleuths suspect that Maoist groups in the state may have had something to do with the sabotage attempt.
“It is a disturbing development and we are taking it very seriously,” said Mr Balakrishnan, while taking part in a discussion on terrorist activities in the state. Meanwhile, the Union minister of state for home, Mr Mullappally Ramachandran, said in Thrissur that the Centre would consider the state government’s request if the investigation by the Kerala police did not reveal the culprits.
“As far as I know, the Kerala police probe has been going in the right direction,” said the minister. “We will look into it anyway.”
The NIA had taken over several terror-related cases in the state including the Kozhikode blasts.