Al-Umma activist arrested in Coimbatore serial blasts case

Chennai, Oct 28 (UNI) More than eight years after the serial bomb blasts rocked the Textile city of Coimbatore, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) today arrested banned Al-Umma activist ''Tailor'' Raja in connection with the explosion that claimed 60 lives and left scores injured.

Police sources told UNI here that Raja alias Sadiq was arrested at Gudalur in Nilgiris district today. He was running a tailor shop in the name of Yasin at Cheranpadi near Gudalur for the last six years.

Considered to be the secondin-command to Al-Umma leader S A Pasha, presently lodged in Coimbatore Prison, Raja was being taken to Coimbatore for identification and establish his involvement in the crime.

Officials said the arrest of Raju, though eight years and eight months after the incident, was considered as a major breakthrough, especially when the trial in the sensational case was on in Coimbatore.

Said to be the key accused in the case, police said Raja had supplied and planted explosives in various places in the textile city on that fateful day.

At least 60 people were killed and nearly 200 injured in the blasts, that took place, minutes before BJP leader L K Advani was to address an election meeting in Coimbatore city on February 14, 1998.

UNI GV-KS RK1926