Post News Network
Puri: Ramchandran Subhash, the main accused in the November 12 serial train fire, Sunday re-enacted the episode during a simulation exercise conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) at the coach depot of railway station here.
The NIA team led by superintendent of police Prashant Kumar took Subhash to the depot in the afternoon. The team asked the accused to demonstrate how he set afire seven coaches of three stationary trains at the railway station.
Sources said Subhash first tore the cover of a berth at the depot and set it afire by using paper pieces. The accused also demonstrated how he moved from one platform to other to torch empty coaches.
NIA sources said Subhash had not used any chemical to torch the coaches and used ordinary match sticks and paper to burn seats in the compartments.
According to sources, the NIA team accompanied by state forensic laboratory assistant director Manoranjan Das and scientific officer Prashant Kumar Pradhan, collected the burnt portion of seats as part of the exercise. “We have collected the burnt seats during the simulation exercise. We will match the samples in the charred compartments involved in the train fire,” said a NIA officer.
The NIA team also videographed the simulation exercise for future reference.
Sources said railway authorities and city police deployed fire brigade personnel and an ambulance to prevent untoward incidents during the exercise.