About six terrorists were present at the Puri Railway Station and observing the situation when three express trains were set ablaze on November 12 last, said Ramchandran, the lone man arrested in the arson case, while being taken on remand by the Government Railway Police (GRP) on Tuesday.
He disclosed that the Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri is in the terrorist target, besides other sensitive places of Odisha.
A blueprint for terrorist attack in sensitive places was prepared in Kolkata and burning the trains was part of the terrorist design, Ramchandran revealed.
Giving answers to questions of mediapersons, Ramchandran said his terrorist associates were in the city.
The explosive statement put the Puri police in a tight spot.
Notably, in the wake of Paris attack and nationwide intelligence alert to avert possible terrorist attack, tight security arrangements have been put in place.
Accordingly, security in and around the Shree Jagannath Temple has been beefed up, while the two marine police stations in Astaranga and Ramchandi have stepped up patrolling in the coastal waters of the district in collaboration with the Coast Guard personnel. Hotels and other facilities for visitor accommodation were put on close vigil as well.
Notably, on the November 12 last, five sleeper class coaches of Puri -New Delhi Nilachal Express, Puri -Tirupati Express and Puri -Howrrah Express trains were set on fire one after another with an interval of just an hour at the Puri Railway Station. Railway Protection Force (RPF) had rounded up a number of persons in suspicion and finally arrested Ramchandran of Tamil Nadu while letting others off. The RPF was allowed to take Ramchandran on a two-day remand by court.
On Tuesday, the GRP, which also registered a criminal case, had taken remand of the accused for six days. GRP Superintendent Sanjay Koushal said all angles of the crime were being investigated.