BJP slams Tamil Nadu over 60-day parole for 1998 Coimbatore blast convicts
The opposition party demands an immediate revocation of the 60-day release granted to five life convicts linked to the banned outfit Al-Umma.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has strongly condemned the Tamil Nadu administration for granting 60 days of parole to five life convicts sentenced over the deadly 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts, demanding the immediate revocation of the order.
The decision extends temporary release to Mohammed Ansari, Mohammed Ali, Monappa alias Mohammed Hasan, Mohammed Azam, and Nawab Khan, all affiliated with the banned organisation Al-Umma. The men were among those convicted for their roles in orchestrating the serial explosions that devastated Coimbatore in February 1998.
What happened in the Coimbatore blasts
The coordinated bombings took place across Coimbatore between 14 and 17 February 1998, targeting multiple commercial areas, streets, and an intended election campaign rally. The strikes claimed 58 lives and injured roughly 250 people.
Investigators uncovered that 19 improvised explosive devices fitted with time-delay mechanisms had been concealed inside cars, scooters, cycles, unattended bags, push carts, and tea canisters across the city. The attacks remain one of the deadliest acts of domestic terror in the state's modern history.
| Detail | Case record |
|---|---|
| Date of attacks | 14–17 February 1998 |
| Improvised explosive devices | 19 bombs deployed |
| Fatalities | 58 people killed |
| Injured | Around 250 people |
| Trial convictions (August 2007) | 69 of 166 accused |
| Madras High Court ruling (December 2009) | 18 convictions upheld |
Following a protracted legal process, a special trial court convicted 69 individuals out of 166 accused in August 2007. In December 2009, the Madras High Court upheld the convictions of 18 key accused, confirming life sentences for 17 convicts and a 13-year term for another.
BJP demands immediate rollback
Reacting sharply to the temporary release, Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy stated that giving long-term concessions to individuals convicted of mass violence undermines the rule of law and insults the memory of victims.
Thirupathy noted that the Supreme Court had previously categorised the Coimbatore attack as "most heinous" and repeatedly declined bail to the perpetrators. He argued that extending leniency to terror convicts risks weakening public faith in institutional security.
"Justice for those affected by the Coimbatore bombing incident can never be compromised for political self-interest," Thirupathy said, insisting that convicts involved in waging violence against society must serve their full sentences behind bars without selective relief.
The party called for an immediate withdrawal of the 60-day parole order, asserting that national security and the protection of citizens must remain paramount, with zero tolerance for extremist violence.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Parole duration granted | 60 days | State parole orders cited by party spokespersons |
| Convicts granted parole | 5 life convicts | Official case records and party statements |
| Fatalities in 1998 blasts | 58 | Court records from trial and Madras High Court rulings |
| Injuries in 1998 blasts | Around 250 | Court records from trial proceedings |
Questions readers are asking
Why has the parole granted to the 1998 Coimbatore blast convicts sparked controversy?
The decision to grant 60 days of parole to five life convicts affiliated with the banned Al-Umma group drew strong objections from the BJP, which argued that convicted perpetrators of mass terror should serve their full sentences without political leniency.
What were the 1998 Coimbatore blasts?
Between 14 and 17 February 1998, 19 bomb blasts rocked Coimbatore, killing 58 people and injuring around 250. The attacks were timed around an election rally.
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Coimbatore | City where the 1998 serial blasts took place. |
| Narayanan Thirupathy | Chief spokesperson for the Tamil Nadu BJP who issued the party's statement. |
| Al-Umma | Banned extremist group responsible for the 1998 bombings. |
| Bharatiya Janata Party | Criticised the parole order and demanded its immediate revocation. |
