Panel confirms Al Umma's role

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MAY 18. The Justice Gokulakrishan Inquiry Commission, which probed the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts of February 1998, has confirmed the role of Muslim fundamentalist groups, particularly Al Umma, in masterminding the blasts and called for a ban on other outfits like the already proscribed Al Umma and Jihad Committee.

``Like Al Umma and Jihad Committee, there are other organisations which are in the habit of taking law in their hands even for the slightest infraction. These organisations, the functioning of which is not in the best interest of the nation, should be identified and proscribed,'' the Commission said in its report, tabled in the State Assembly today.

The Commission has found that the Al Umma's conspiracy, making use of Muslim youths, by ``arousing their fanaticism'' was a retaliation to the killing of Muslims in police firing during Nov.-Dec. 1997. It also concluded that there were human bombs at the meeting venue ``with a view to kill or harm'' the BJP leader, Mr. L.K. Advani.

However, the serial bomb blasts that ripped through the Coimbatore city on February 14 in 1998 killing over 50 persons and injuring over 200 ``could have been prevented'' if the police were vigilant and their ``surveillance was effective'', it has said.

Faulting the police ``lapse'', the Commission recommended the creation of a separate wing to deal with ``communal intelligence'' in view of the frequent communal clashes in Coimbatore and in southern districts.

The ``virulent and vituperative'' speeches of leaders of fundamentalist groups like Al Umma, Jihad Committee, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam, Hindu Munnani, Hindu Makkal Katchi, RSS, Shiv Sena and Sangh Parivar were responsible for the communal murders in Coimbatore, the Commission said and called upon the police to ``strictly monitor'' their speeches and take speedy action against them.

Stating that the Kottaimedu area in Coimbatore ``seems to be a breeding ground for terrorist groups'', the commission has urged the Government to construct huge residential-cum-business complexes where local residents could be given preference to establish their businesses. This will solve the unemployment problem among youths and avert the hawking on the pavements, market places and busy localities.

Other key recommendations include permanent stationing of a unit of the Rapid Action Force in Coimbatore, strict observance of code of conduct for the police, avoiding the police force ``being packed with any particular religious/caste/linguistic groups'' and setting up check-posts to prevent infiltration by anti- socials and movement of arms.

The commission has also called for proper regulation of religious and caste processions with discretion to the police to chalk out the routes and permanent peace panels at taluk levels, besides in each ward in Coimbatore.

Accepting the commission's findings ``in principle'', the Government has decided to give a maximum compensation of Rs.10 lakhs only to each victim.

The Government has sanctioned nearly Rs. 1.96 crores to be disbursed to the victims besides a little over Rs. 1.02 crores already given as compensation to them.

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Section  : Southern States
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