A key accused in the 2002 Godhra train carnage who was rearrested last week had taken to petty robberies to fund his escape, claim police.

"We have recovered stolen items worth Rs.150,000 from Salim Zarda," Brajesh Kumar Jha, superintendent of police of Panchmahals district, told IANS on phone.

Investigations are on and more such recoveries are expected, he said.

 Zarda is currently in remand for 14 days after police in Godhra arrested him from the central Gujarat town of Bharuch, 182 km from here, a week ago.

An alleged highway robber, Zarda is one of the accused in the case related to the train burning at Godhra, 136 km from here, in February 2002 that killed 59 people.

Zarda is alleged to have played a crucial role in procuring and transporting the petrol used to torch a coach of the Sabarmati Express train.

The incident sparked sectarian violence across Gujarat that claimed at least 1,000 lives.

Zarda was arrested by Rajasthan Police and was lodged in the central jail here. He was granted bail by a special court to attend a family function in his hometown Godhra.

He, however, hoodwinked his police escort with the help of relatives and escaped Oct 13.

Inspector General of Police (Vadodara range) Rakesh Ashtana has said Zarda indulged in robberies possibly to collect enough money to stage an escape to Pakistan.

Police in Godhra are trying to find out who his accomplices were and where he committed the crimes.

--Indo-Asian News Service