SA Basha in Coimbatore Central Jail in 2009 Photo Credit: The Hindu
SA Basha, 84, the mastermind of the 1998 serial blasts in Coimbatore that killed 58, died on Monday (December 16, 2024).
He was on parole and undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Coimbatore, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the serial blasts case. According to family sources, Basha’s condition worsened and he died at 6:20 pm.
Following a series of bombings on February 14, 1998, in which more than 200 people were injured, the government declared Al Ummah, an organization he founded, a banned organization. A bomb was detonated to kill BJP leader LK Advani who had come to Coimbatore to attend an election meeting.
Sources said that Basha has been on parole for the past few months. Basha’s body was taken to his son Siddique Ali’s house in Rose Garden, South Ukkadam, Coimbatore on Monday evening. They informed that the last rites will be performed at Hyder Ali Tippu Sultan Sunnat Jamaat Masjid in Phoolbazar on Tuesday.
Basha’s al-Uma had a presence in the western and southern districts of Tamil Nadu, particularly Coimbatore, Dindigul, Madurai and Tirunelveli.
Inspired by his leadership, other members such as Imam Ali and Haider Ali furthered the Al Umma ideology and recruited many youths into the organization.
Imam Ali, a prominent figure, was arrested by the police but escaped after an armed gang attacked the Tirumangalam police station in Madurai district in 2003. A few months later, Imam Ali and four others were shot dead by the Madurai police and the Special Task Force. Employees in Bangalore.
According to police sources, Basha was a commission agent of Daura in the early days. Later he also started real estate business.
He became popular in 1983 when he made an attempt on the life of a BJP leader. Krishnamurthy and Hindu Munnani leader Thirukovilur Sundaram have been accused of criticizing Islam in public meetings. In 1984, he was allegedly involved in the Ram attack. Gopalan, the then state coordinator of Hindu Morcha at Madurai railway station, sources said.
When the Babri Masjid was destroyed, several cases were registered against him and his supporters for their involvement in the violence in Coimbatore. He was also arrested under the National Security Act (NSA).
Meanwhile, the Coimbatore city police stepped up vigilance and recalled police officers who were on leave. In view of the funeral procession on Tuesday, the police have planned to deploy more than 1,500 policemen in the city.
published – December 16, 2024 at 10:14 am IST