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Al-Umma chief acquitted in rice mill blast case

S A Basha, chief of the banned Al-Umma outfit and prime accused in the serial bomb blasts which rocked Coimbatore in February 1998, was Tuesday acquitted in the 'Rice Mill' blast case by a designated court trying bomb blast cases for 'lack of evidence.'

Besides Basha, four others were acquitted by the court in Madras, which, however, convicted the mill owner Abdul Kadir and two others.

Kadir was sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 110,000 while the other two were given five years RI each and fines of Rs 20,000.

Of the nine persons, initially charged under various sections of Explosive Substances Act and CrPC, one is since deceased.

In February 1998, three persons, manufacturing crude bombs at a rice mill at Saliamangalam village near Ammapatti in Thanjavur district, were killed when one of the bombs went off. A watchman was also killed in the explosion.

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