TN govt likely to release Coimbatore blast kingpin SA Basha from prison

In a move that is likely to have far-reaching consequences in the law and order situation of Tamil Nadu, the state Prison and Correctional Services have  included Islamist terrorist and founder of terror outfit, Al- Umma , S.A. Basha, among the 46 convicts who are to be released on September 15, the birth anniversary of late Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai.

While the Prison and Correctional Services have included his name for clearance from the state government, the question is whether the prison department will allow such a notorious terrorist to be released on goodwill? 

It may be recalled that S.A. Basha, the founder leader of the Islamist terror outfit Al- Umma, was the key accused in the serial blasts at Coimbatore that took place on February 14, 1998 aimed at the then Deputy Prime Minister and senior BJP leader, Lal Krishna Advani.

In the gruesome attack, 58 people lost their lives and more than 200 were grievously injured. Coimbatore which was one of the key trade centres of Tamil Nadu was totally destroyed following the serial blasts and Basha was convicted as the main conspirator and accused in the case.

After the ban of the Islamist terror outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) in September 2022, the terror activities and the Islamist fundamentalist activities of Tamil Nadu have taken a back seat. With the release of Basha who is considered as a notorious criminal involved in several murder attempts of senior RSS, BJP functionaries and the main conspirator of Coimbatore blasts, the Islamist activities in the state will once again be renewed and fresh recruits will be added.

On October 22, 2023,  twenty-nine-year-old Islamist, Jumisha Mubin was charred to death at Ukkadam in Coimbatore which incidentally was on the eve of Deepavali.

Police found that the youth was attempting to create a mayhem at the busy Deepavali market but as he was not well aware of the functioning of the timer bomb, the bomb exploded much before the
destination.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Tamil Nadu elite police force,‘Q’ branch in their investigation had arrested one Mohammed Talka who was associated with the conspiracy in the bombing.

Incidentally, Mohammed Talka is the nephew of Basha and central intelligence officers who were probing the case told IANS that the role of Basha in the conspiracy could not be ruled out.

R. Prasad Rao, a security analyst while speaking to IANS said, “The Tamil Nadu government including Basha in the list of prisoners who are to be let off on September 15 is really outrageous. Basha is a hardened criminal and his organisation Al-Umma is involved in several organised
crimes in Tamil Nadu including murders and mayhem. He should not be released from prison for now.”

The state government has been trying to woo the Islamic movements in a bid to secure the vote bank and the move to release Basha is a clear indication as to where the winding is blowing.