Vadodara, Apr 12: The Gujarat Police have launched a nationwide hunt to trace two of the main accused –Farooq Bhana and Salim Panwala--allegedly involved in the Godhra train carnage, minister of state for home Amit Shah said here today. "A nationwide hunt has been launched to trace Bhana, a disqualified member of Godhra local civic body, and Salim Panwala,” Shah said.

He said that the state police have sought the assistance of intelligence bureau and other state government agencies to nab the two accused.

The arrest of transporter Sayed Abdul Sattar would throw more light on the carnage, where 59 ram sevaks were charred to death when the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express was set ablaze by miscreants on February 27 last year at Godhra station, he said.


The minister said that the interrogation of those arrested for the carnage have given leads of involvement of agencies from Pakistan in the gruesome incident.


Without elaborating, shah said nearly 80 people out of the 131 accused have been arrested.
Shah was in the city in connection with the mega event of Gujarat Foundation Day celebrations for May 1 and other official engagements.

Bureau Report