1998 Coimbatore Blasts Convicts Get Parole, BJP Hits Out At Vijay Government

A parole for five of the 22 men convicted for their roles in executing the 1998 Coimbatore serial blast triggered a political controversy in C Joseph Vijay-led Tamil Nadu, with the ruling TVK and its allies saying it was high time the prisoners got relief and the Bharatiya Janata Party accusing the government of "selective softness towards convicted terrorists".

The Tamil Nadu government allowed a 60-day break from jail to Mohammed Ansari, Mohammed Ali, Monappa alias Mohammed Hassan, Mohammed Ajam and Nawab Khan, who were convicted for orchestrating the blasts that killed 58 people and injured over 250 ahead of BJP leader LK Advani's rally.

The grounds for the parole, as cited by the authorities, were personal reasons and health conditions, and that the convicts had already spent 25-30 years in prison. They are neither adequate nor commensurate with the gravity of the crime, the BJP has argued.

"Personal grounds cannot override the gravity of a terror attack that remains one of the darkest chapters in the State's history," said Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson Narayan Thirupathy in a post on X, condemning the TVK "in the strongest terms."

"The blasts, executed by the banned Al-Umma organisation ahead of an election rally, were a deliberate act of mass murder against civilians. The Supreme Court itself has described this crime as atrocious and refused to grant bail to the convicts," he said.

BJP's Vanathi Srinivasan demanded an explanation from the TVK government.

"The parole to five convicts in the Coimbatore blast is highly condemnable. The law minister has to explain under whose advice and for what reasons parole was granted. Is the government not aware that such decisions could undermine public confidence in the rule of law and once again disrupt public peace?" said the politician.

Praise For Chief Minister Vijay

VCK leader and Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu thanked Vijay for granting the parole to the convicts.

"The VCK stand is to release 22 Muslim long-term prisoners. On June 6, we met Chief Minister Vijay with requests to release 22 long-term prisoners. As a result of the continued efforts of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), the Tamil Nadu government has issued an order granting 60 days of parole, in accordance with the rules, to five Muslim life convicts in the first phase. We thank the Chief Minister and the law minister for making this possible," he said.

TVK MLA Mustafa also welcomed the granting of parole to the prisoners.

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Twelve explosions went off in February 1998. The blasts were seen as a coordinated attempt to assassinate LK Advani, who was scheduled to address an election rally.

In January 2023, nine convicts in the same case were allowed interim leave.