Verdict on Coimbatore case: Basha and Ansari get life imprisonment

Oct 24: The Coimbatore Special Court sentenced three of the 70 convicts to life imprisonment who were charged with criminal conspiracy and murder charges of 1998 serial blast in Coimbatore, which left the city thunderstruck and traumatised.

Those who were sentenced include the founder-leader of Al-Umma, S A Basha and its general secretary Mohammed Ansari.

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Special Court Judge K Uthirapathi also sentences eight other key convicts to life imprisonment.

The founder-leader of proscribed Al-Umma S A Basha and its general secretary Mohammed Ansari are among the 70, who were convicted by the special judge K Uthirapathi on August 01 last as the charges against them were proved.

The founder-leader of banned Al-Umma, S A Basha, and its general secretary Mohammed Ansari are among those who were convicted by Special Judge K Uthirapathi on August 01, 2007 after being found guilty.

A total of 19 explosions in a series was a part of the conspiracy named ‘Operation Allahu akbar’ to wipe out senior BJP leader L K Advani, who was scheduled to visit the city during his political campaign. A number of bombs were plotted to set the score even for the death of Muslims occured due to the outrage spread on the killing of a policeman by Al Umma activist.

In retaliation of the killing of the policeman, 18 Muslim youths were killed and shops belonging to Muslims were ransacked.

Three years later this heinous act was plotted, which targeted Advani.

This dreadful operation left at least 58 people died and more than 200 hurt and the property worth of crores had been destroyed.

Most of the arrested people were of the banned organisation Al-Umma.

Earlier, Kerala based People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Abdul Nasser Madhani was cleared of the charges of conspiracy of the blasts carried out on Feb 14.

The verdict is likely to be final pronouncement for those who are accused in serial bomb blast case.

The trial of this case began in March 2002 and on August 1, 2007 the Judge awarded the sentences and ordered release of 76 who were in the jail since seven years or more.

Basha is believed to have masterminded several attacks on various leaders; he collected money through running extortion rackets by levying tax on rich Muslim businessmen in Coimbatore. In 1993 Basha set up the Al Umma after the Babri Masjid demolition.

Security has been beefed up in and around the city to prevent any possible hostile response.