Key Accused in 1998 Coimbatore Blasts Arrested After 27 Years on the Run

COIMBATORE:

One of the most wanted suspects in the 1998 Coimbatore serial bombings, A. Sadiq, also known as Tailor Raja, was apprehended in Vijayapura, Karnataka, on July 10, 2025, marking a significant breakthrough. Law enforcement agencies’ nearly three decade long pursuit has come to an end. One of the most horrific terrorism cases in the nation is now nearing the end of the Supreme Court monitored investigation.

The 1998 Coimbatore bombings, carried out on 14 February, saw 58 people killed and over 200 injured in a coordinated attack across 11 locations within a seven 

kilometre radius, targeting a rally that senior BJP leader L. K. Advani was due to attend. Al‑Umma, led by S. A. Basha, was identified as the mastermind organisation; Basha has since died in prison.

A special team comprising Coimbatore City Police and Tamil Nadu’s Anti Terrorism Squad arrested Sadiq on intelligence suggesting he was living under the alias “Shahjahan Shaik” and working as a chilli commission agent. Officials say he had shifted between Hubballi, Solapur, Guntur, and finally Vijayapura, evading capture since 1996.

Sadiq, now aged 50, is accused of orchestrating the bomb manufacturing at a rented house on Vallal Nagar in Ukkadam, from where he supplied explosives to other Al-Umma operatives in the days leading up to the blasts. He is also allegedly linked to a 1996 petrol bomb attack inside Coimbatore Central Prison that claimed the life of a jail warder and further accused in a murder during those years.

The investigation into the blasts has been a long standing priority, with three special teams forming across Coimbatore, Madurai and Trichy since 2022 to trace the remaining fugitives. A reward of ₹4 lakh was announced for information leading to the arrest of Sadiq and his associate, Mujibur Rahman, who also remains at large.

Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Shankar Jiwal confirmed the arrest, noting that two other wanted suspects had been apprehended recently in Andhra Pradesh. He emphasised that “Operation Aram” and “Operation Agali” are active intelligence driven efforts to eliminate terrorism from the region.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M. K. Stalin, praised the collaborative efforts of the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh police and lauded the Anti Terrorism Squad, established in 2023, for its role in securing Sadiq’s arrest .

This arrest marks a critical milestone in the Coimbatore investigations. Despite the death of the alleged mastermind, Basha, in December 2024, and successful convictions including those against Basha and 12 others fugitives like Sadiq had continued to elude justice.

Sadiq has been remanded in judicial custody until 24 July, and will be lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison. Authorities intend to subject him to rigorous interrogation before seeking his transfer for trial under the Indian Penal Code and Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act (TADA).

The search for the other suspects, such as Abubacker Siddiq, Ayub alias Ashraf Ali, and Mujibur Rahman, who are still thought to be hiding in four states, is still ongoing. For the victims of the 1998 attacks, their capture would be another step toward justice.