BJP leaders and Hindu organisations have condemned the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to grant 60-day parole to prisoners serving life sentences in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts case, calling it a “bad precedent”.
The blasts, which took place on February 14, 1998 at more than 11 locations in Coimbatore, were described as a terror attack aimed at then Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani. The incident killed 58 people and left 231 injured, triggering shock across Tamil Nadu and the country. Investigators identified the outfit Al Umma as being behind the attack, and 168 people, including its leader Basha, were arrested. A special court later awarded life sentences to Basha and others.
The report said demands for the early release of long-term Muslim prisoners have been raised by Muslim organisations and some political parties for over 15 years, and the issue gained momentum after 2011. It added that during the 2021–2026 DMK tenure, some prisoners were released and others were sent out on parole for more than two months.
After the new government assumed office on May 10, leaders including a VCK minister, a Muslim League minister and the state secretary of the CPI(M) met Chief Minister Vijay and Law Minister Nirmalkumar with a petition seeking the release of long-term Muslim prisoners, the report said.
Subsequently, parole was decided for 22 prisoners, and in the first phase, Mohamed Hasan (46), Mohamed Ali (52), Mohamed Azam, Mohamed Ansari (58) and Nawab Khan were released. They are among those serving life terms in the Coimbatore blasts case. BJP state general secretary A.P. Muruganandam said the move hurt victims’ families and urged the government to withdraw the parole order, while Hindu organisations also criticised the decision.
