Coimbatore serial blasts case: quantum of punishment

Special Court, hearing the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts case has announced the quantum of punishment for 70 people convicted in the case.


Al-Umma President, S A Basha was awarded a life sentence while Secretary Mohammad Ansari — against whom major charges were proved, on October 24 — has been given two life sentences that will run concurrently.


"Only Muslims are punished. The Sangh Parivar is never punished," said Basha after the sentence was announced. Earlier 88 people convicted in the blasts were sentenced, of which 83 had walked free as they were punished for less than nine years and had already served more than nine years.


On February 14, 1998 when hundreds had gathered in Coimbatore during the election campaign visit of senior BJP leader L K Advani, bombs went off at 12 different places in the city, including the rally site, killing 58 people. The founder-leader of al-Umma, S A Basha, and general secretary Mohammed Ansari are among the 70 who were convicted by special judge K Uthirapathi on August 1 after being found guilty


Another accused, PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, the rabble rouser who was once branded as a militant, was acquitted after nine years.

Courtesy:IBNLive
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