Coimbatore has a history of communal tensions, most notably in 1997, when riots claimed 18 lives, and in 1998, when over 50 people lost their lives in a series of bomb blasts. On February 14, 1998, as then-Home Minister LK Advani was preparing to address a gathering in Coimbatore, 11 bombs detonated across the city. These blasts prompted extensive searches in predominantly Muslim areas and the proscription of the Islamic organisation Al Umma.

Fortunately, Advani’s flight delay in Thiruvananthapuram prevented the terrorists from infiltrating the police cordon, foiling their plot. It’s noteworthy that although Advani had received intelligence input about a possible threat on February 14, 1998, he is said to have disregarded it.
The first bomb detonated near Advani’s scheduled public meeting location, Shanmugham Road in RS Puram. Boxes containing gelatin sticks and timer devices were used to trigger the bombs. Explosions occurred within the next 45 minutes in multiple locations, including Ukkadam’s Gani Rowther Street, BJP’s election office at Ratnapuri, Gandhipuram’s shopping complex, Coimbatore railway station’s parking lot for two- and four-wheelers, Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, West Sambandam Road, VKK Menon Road at a travel agency owned by a local BJP leader, and near a temple in Kurichikulam. Authorities also found a car rigged with nearly 70kg of explosives near Advani’s meeting venue.
These events left a deep scar on the city, with many residents losing their livelihoods and businesses. Today, some locations linked to the bombings, like RS Puram, have transformed into bustling commercial areas. However, these places hold somber memories for residents who have experienced those traumatic times.
The case resulted in the conviction of 53 individuals in 2007, including Al Umma’s leader, SA Basha. Another accused, Abdul Nazar Madani of Kerala’s People’s Democratic Party, served a jail term and house arrest for nearly a decade before being acquitted in 2007.

Similarity With 2022 Bomb Blast

On October 25, 2022, Coimbatore City Police arrested five individuals linked to an Islamist radical group in connection with a gas cylinder blast that occurred in the early hours of October 23, 2022, resulting in the death of Jamesa Mubin. The arrested suspects, all hailing from Coimbatore district, include Mohammad Dhalha (25), Mohammad Azarudheen (25), Mohammad Riyaz (27), Feroz Ismail (27), and Mohammad Navaz Ismail (27). The police have charged them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). During the investigation, it was revealed that one of the suspects, Mohammad Dhalka, had provided a car to the primary accused, Jamesa Mubin, who died in the blast. Of particular concern is the fact that Mohammad Dhalka is the son of an individual involved in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts.

Minority appeasement by AIADMK

The AIADMK, led by former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), after snapping ties with the BJP in Tamil Nadu, called for releasing Muslim prisoners, including those convicted in the 1998 Coimbatore Bomb Blasts case. The motion called for the humanitarian release of more than 36 Muslim prisoners, including 16 individuals sentenced to life in the 1998 Coimbatore Blasts case. The basis for this request is these prisoners’ extensive time served, advanced age, and health conditions.

The Chief Minister added that 49 eligible prisoner files were sent to the Governor after thorough consideration from govt on 24th August 2023.

Coimbatore blast convicts bail plea rejected by SC

The bail plea of convicts in the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts case has been rejected by the Supreme Court of India. The court, led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, dismissed the bail application, emphasising that the appeals filed by the convicts challenging their conviction and sentence would be listed for February 2024. The court’s decision was based on the gravity of the case, where 58 people lost their lives in a series of bomb explosions that rocked Coimbatore between February 14 and February 17, 1998. The court ruled that the nature of the crime made bail out of the question despite the time served by the convicts.

Annamalai slams political parties

K. Annamalai, Tamil Nadu BJP president, expressed concern over the Tamil Nadu Assembly’s discussion about releasing convicts involved in the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts case. He criticised the move, highlighting the recent rejection of bail petitions for some convicts by the Supreme Court. Annamalai took to social media platform X to share his thoughts on the issue. He wrote, “In February 1998, a bomb blast by Radical Islamic Fundamentalists in a serene city like Coimbatore led to the loss of 58 lives and injured over 200. The SC last week stuck down the bail application filed by a few convicts in this case & reiterated it as an atrocious act. Despite all this, today, the Tamil Nadu assembly discussed the release of Terrorists serving life imprisonment for their involvement in the Coimbatore bomb blast & other heinous acts. While the wound of 1998 is yet to heal, last October, a suicide bombing incident shook Coimbatore again & NIA arrested 13 radicals involved in this terrorist act. Minority appeasement seems to have taken the driver’s seat for a few, and the safety of those who elected them has taken the back seat. We hope good sense prevails and the TN CM Thiru MK Stalin will stop this misadventure of releasing the radical Islamic fundamentalists involved in the Coimbatore Bomb Blast from prison.”

Annamalai accused certain politicians of prioritising “minority appeasement” over the safety of their constituents and labelled all the convicts in the case as radical Islamic fundamentalists. He hoped for “good sense” to prevail and urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to reconsider the measures related to the convicts’ release.