CHENNAI/BENGALURU, 10 JULY

Tamil Nadu Police have apprehended Sadiq alias Tailor Raja, a key accused in the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts case, nearly three decades after he first went into hiding. The arrest occurred on 10 July, 2025, in the Vijayapura district in the State, following credible intelligence. Sadiq, originally from Coimbatore, had been evading capture since 1996 and is linked to several terrorism and communal murder cases across Tamil Nadu.

The 1998 bombings killed 58 people and injured over 250 when 19 explosives detonated throughout Coimbatore between 14 and 17 February. Sadiq is also implicated in other serious crimes, including a 1996 petrol bomb attack that killed a jail warden, the 1996 Sayeetha murder case, and the murder of a jailor in 1997.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Tamil Nadu, in collaboration with the Coimbatore City Police, previously arrested other prominent fugitives, including Abubacker Siddique and Mohamed Ali, indicating a significant crackdown on long-absconding terror suspects. Chief Minister MK Stalin commended the ATS for their diligent work in enhancing the state's internal security.