Maulana Hussain Umarji, a key accused in the Godhra train carnage, was on Thursday arrested in Godhra triggering a spontaneous protest from members of the minority community who observed a shutdown prompting police to beef up security in the town.

Umarji, a priest, was allegedly involved in the burning of Sabarmati Express' S-6 coach near the Godhra railway station, on February 27 last year, in which 59 persons perished.

Railway Police Force sources said he was arrested at the Signal Falia locality in the wee hours. The police action followed after an accused, Zabir Bin Yamin Behra, apprehended earlier named Umarji as the main conspirator in the Godhra train carnage.

Umarji's arrest sparked an instant protest from members of the minority community who observed a bandh downing shutters of their shops.

Members of the majority community also shut their shops apprehending violence.

So far, no untoward incident has been reported from any part of the town, police said adding an additional company of the State Reserve Police had been deployed as a precautionary measure.