How Al Umma's 'human bombs' camouflaged their identities

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MAY 20. Three activists of the banned fundamentalist outfit, `Al Umma', who were asked by its Chief, S.A.Basha, to play the `human bomb' against the BJP leader, Mr. L. K. Advani, during his visit to Coimbatore on February 14, 1998, had gone to the poll meeting venue, wearing ``beads and applied kumkum on their forehead''.

The ``deep rooted conspiracy'' hatched by Muslim fundamentalist organisations, more particularly Al Umma members,

also involved four persons being ``deputed to the public meeting place'' that day with ``smaller box-type bombs for throwing at the dais or into the crowd at the public meeting place where Mr.Advani was to address''. If they missed the target (Mr.Advani), the `human bombs' were to take over the mission.

The final report of the Justice Mr.P.R.Gokulakrishnan Commission of Enquiry, which probed the serial blasts in Coimbatore, upholding the Special Investigation Team's affidavit filed before the panel, has detailed the factual circumstances

leading to the bomb blasts that occurred in 19 places in Coimbatore then and other law and order disturbances. While six Al Umma activists came to Chennai from Coimbatore in January 1998 to meet S.A.Basha, to discuss their plan to ``avenge the death'' of 18 Muslims at Coimbatore during the earlier riots that happened there in November/December 1997, the outfit's chief had asked another activist, Amanullah, seven days before the serial blasts, whether he (Amanullah) ``can finish off'' Mr. Advani, slated to come to Coimbatore on February 14, 1998.

The report documents that the confessional statement of Amanullah to the SIT states he agreed to do the job. Further, on February 10, S.A.Basha had told Amanullah that two others, Melapalayam Amjath Ali and Rafique alias Shanmugam ``will also act as human bombs''. They were despatched ``after being motivated and indoctrinated to commit self-sacrifice for the cause of Islam''.

The gruesome plan, as gleaned from the confessional statements, also involved Amjath Ali being instructed to position himself near the car of Mr.Advani when the BJP leader alights to address the public meeting, even as Rafique and Amanullah had been asked to ``stand near the dais and burst the bombs attached to their bodies''. If they failed, Amjath Ali was asked to `burst his bomb' when Mr.Advani ``comes to get into the car''.

The trio, in proceeding to the meeting venue, had split themselves in different directions, according to Amanullah's confession. They each had ``small box bomb'' tied to their waists, which would explode instantaneously ``on pulling the switch on the top''.

The presence of metal detectors all over the routes to the dais, impeded their approach towards it, and the mission itself got aborted after bombs going off in different places had forced the authorities to cancel Mr.Advani's public meeting.

Amanullah decided to walk back to their hideout on Thirumal Street, and so did Amjath Ali retreat leaving his bomb in a bush. The latter killed four children the next day who stumbled on it while playing cricket. The third `human bomb', Rafique, got killed in another bomb blast the next day.

In persuading the would-be human-bombs, Basha had asked Amanullah to kill Mr.Advani just as the belt-bomb woman, Thanu had killed Rajiv Gandhi. Basha had also told Amjath Ali, to ``sacrifice his life for the sake of Allah''.

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Section  : Southern States
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