Political backlash in Coimbatore case after parole for five convicts
Chennai, Oct 19 — The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday criticised the state government's decision to grant 60 days' parole to five life convicts in the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts case, calling the move tantamount to "selective softness" towards those convicted in a major terror attack, PTI reported.
The convicts — Mohammed Ansari, Mohammed Ali, Monappa alias Mohammed Hassan, Mohammed Ajam and Nawab Khan — were convicted for their roles in the coordinated explosions that killed 58 people and injured more than 250 others on 14 February 1998. The blasts, attributed to the banned Al-Umma organisation and carried out ahead of an election rally, have been described in court records as a deliberate attack on civilians.
"This decision reeks of selective softness towards convicted terrorists,"
said Narayanan Thirupathy, the Tamil Nadu BJP's chief spokesperson, in comments posted on X, according to the PTI report. He said the parole was an "insult to the dead and a betrayal of the living" and urged immediate cancellation of the orders, citing media reports.
Grounds cited for parole and party demands
Officials noted the five inmates at Coimbatore Central Prison were granted the 60-day leave after petitions that cited personal reasons and health conditions. The prisoners have served between 25 and 30 years in custody, the report said.
- BJP demanded the parole orders be revoked immediately and that no further concessions be extended to the Al-Umma convicts.
- The party emphasised that personal grounds should not override the gravity of the attack, which the Supreme Court has described as "atrocious" while refusing bail in the matter.
- Thirupathy insisted that "the terrorists must serve their full sentences," asserting that justice for the victims should not be traded for political calculations.
The PTI account states the parole was granted on the basis of petitions highlighting the convicts' health and personal circumstances. It did not provide details on whether the parole is to be served at particular locations or subject to any supervisory conditions.
Local context and enduring scars
For Coimbatore, the 1998 blasts remain a defining and traumatic episode. Nearly three decades on, the incident continues to surface in political debates, court proceedings and public memory in the city and the state. Opposition over prisoner concessions in high-profile terror cases has become a recurrent flashpoint in Tamil Nadu politics, particularly when the victims' families and political parties push for strict enforcement of sentences.
| Detail | Reported figure / information |
|---|---|
| Parole duration | 60 days |
| Convicts named | Mohammed Ansari; Mohammed Ali; Monappa alias Mohammed Hassan; Mohammed Ajam; Nawab Khan |
| Victims | 58 killed, more than 250 injured |
| Time served | Reportedly 25–30 years |
The BJP's reaction, reported through PTI, frames the parole as a security and moral concern. The party argued the state's decision sends a concerning message to the public that those convicted of attacking society could expect leniency. It also referenced the Supreme Court having termed the crime "atrocious" while denying bail in the case.
At the time of the PTI report, state authorities' detailed rationale for granting the parole — and whether any conditions or restrictions would apply during the 60-day period — was not given in the coverage. The parole move is likely to provoke further debate in Coimbatore and across Tamil Nadu over how the justice system balances humane considerations for long-incarcerated prisoners with the demands for accountability from victims' families and political actors.
As the controversy unfolds, Coimbatore residents and victims' families are expected to follow developments closely, given the lasting impact of the 1998 attacks on the city's social and political fabric.
