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2. The case of the prosecution is stated hereunder. We have abbreviated the narration of the prosecution case restricting it only to the relevant details:

The city of Coimbatore was subjected to 19 bomb explosions, between 14-02-1998 and 17-02-1998, resulting in the death of 58 persons and injuries to 250 persons and huge loss to private and public properties. Bombs planted in 24 places were recovered/defused. According to the prosecution, this was engineered by a fundamentalist organisation called 'Al Umma'. A1, S.A. Basha is the founder/leader of Al Umma. In an earlier case, he had been convicted and sentenced to undergo three years' imprisonment for attempt to murder. Thereafter, there had been several instances of communal violence in and around Coimbatore city. This gained momentum after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in the year 1992, and there had been police firing, destruction of public transport vehicles and damage to temples. A1 and others were arrested on 16-11-1993 in connection with the bomb blast at the R.S.S. Office at Chennai. 16 members of Al Umma, including A1, were taken into custody under the Terrorist And Destructive Activities (TADA) Act, but were released, in February 1997. A1 became the State President of 'Al Umma. According to the prosecution, teams were formed with young men to become 'shaheeds (martyrs) in the cause of Islam. On 30-11-1997, an incident took place and that was the death of a Traffic Constable Selvaraj at the hands of Al Umma cadres. This resulted in a brutal retaliation, where 18 Muslims were killed. According to the prosecution, the photographs and video clippings of the dead bodies of these persons were distributed to incite feelings of revenge and violence, which took the form of the blasts on 14-02-1998. To demonstrate their feelings, they chose the day of B.J.P. Leader Mr. L.K. Advanis visit to Coimbatore, to attend an Election Rally. To execute the plot, various accused had procured explosives, transported them, assembled them and planted them at strategic locations and caused the explosions.

20. In reply, the learned Public Prosecutor Mr. P. Kumaresan submitted as follows:

(i) The Coimbatore serial bomb blast case was a first case of this magnitude in Tamil Nadu. The investigation had applied itself to tracking the offenders assiduously. Neither the prosecution case, nor the investigation suffered from any infirmity. It was an organised attack. All the witnesses either resided in, or worked in or had reason to go to, the particular locality. All the Accused came from certain areas. The Accused had fixed the 14-02-1998 for attack that was the date of the visit of Thiru.L.K.Advani, and they knew that the members belonging to BJP and Hindu Munnani and allied organisations would participate in full strength. The perpetarors of the crime intended to terrorise the entire city and to paralyse it.
(iv) The next complaint is Ex-P95. This relates to the blast in Hindu Munnani Office, Crime No.195 of 1998. It states that a Muslim Fundamentalists had planned this and had planted bombs in bicycles in order to kill the followers of the Hindu Munnani Party.
(v) Ex-65 is the complaint given by P.W.205, Purushothaman in respect of the blast at B.J.P. Election Office and Crime No.196 of 1998. He has referred to the blast at 4 o clock and to the damage that had happened and he had stated that this was planned to show the opposition to Mr. L.K. Advanis visit by Muslim Extremists belonging to Al-Umma and Jahad Committee.
(iv) Conspiracy dated 15-01-1998 :
P.W.1199 is Ramesh who lived in West Venkatesan Road at that time. On 15-01-1998, at 11 a.m., he went near Kottaimedu along with his friend Palanivelu in connection with work. About 30 persons were standing in front of 'Al Umma' office and talking. He stood and listened to what they were talking. A4 Nawab Khan, A8 Siddiq Ali, A13 Auto Siraj, A9 Oom Babu and A6 Ozir were there. Along with them, 25 more persons were there. At that time, A4 stood up and said, "The time to take revenge has come, be prepared to give up your lives". Everybody said, "We are ready, we are ready". Thereafter, the witness finished his work and returned home via Vincent Road. On 14-02-1998, when Mr. L.K. Advani was to visit Coimbatore, there were bomb blasts. Many 'Al Umma' people were arrested. After six months, he was examined. He told them what he had seen and he identified A4, A6, A8, A9 and A13 in Court.