Godhra train carnage case: Life convict held in Pune four months after jumping parole
Pune (PTI): A 55-year-old life convict in Godhra train carnage case of 2002, who absconded after jumping parole in September last year, has been arrested in Maharashtra's Pune district in a theft case, police said on Monday.
Salim Zarda, who previously also jumped parole on eight occasions, was arrested by the Pune rural police on January 22 for a theft, they said, adding he has been handed over to the Nashik police in connection with a theft case registered there.
He was among the 31 persons convicted in the Godhra train carnage case, the police said.
Zarda, who was lodged at a prison in Gujarat, was released on a seven-day parole on September 17, 2024, but he failed to return.
"We arrested him and his gang members on January 22 for their involvement in thefts across rural Pune. During the investigation, his connection to the Godhra train carnage case came to light," Inspector Dinesh Tayde of Alephata police station said.
On February 27, 2002, the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express was burnt at Godhra in Gujarat, which killed 59 persons and triggered riots in the state.
Tayde said 31 persons had been convicted in the 2002 Godhra train carnage case. While 11 of them were initially sentenced to death, 20 got life term in the case.
"Zarda was among the 11 persons sentenced to death, but the (Gujarat) High Court later commuted their sentences to life imprisonment," he said.
Zarda and his gang members were arrested in Pune last month for allegedly stealing 40 tyres valued at more than Rs 2.49 lakh from a stationary truck on January 7, the official said.
They were also linked to similar thefts in Manchar area of Pune and Sinnar in Nashik. Stolen articles and a tempo truck valued at Rs 14.4 lakh have been recovered, the official said.
"Zarda and his associates used to operate in Pune and nearby districts, carrying out thefts," Tayde said.
Pankaj Deshmukh, Superintendent of Police, Pune rural, said the accused has been handed over to Nashik rural police in connection with a theft case registered at Sinnar police station.
"We will seek his custody again for a theft case registered at Manchar police station," he added.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
