18th anniversary of Coimbatore blasts observed

BJP and various Hindu outfits today paid homage to the victims of serial bomb blasts on the 18th anniversary of the attack here, with Union Minister of State Pon Radhakrishnan saying such terror act should never happen again.
Hundreds of activists of BJP and various Hindu outfits were arrested here when they gathered at different places to pay homage to the victims of the serial bomb blasts that rocked the city on this day in 1998.
A total of 1,850 people were arrested for holding homage meetings without necessary permission but let off later, police said.
The activists of outfits like Hindu Makkal Katchi, Hindu Munnani, Hanuman Sena gathered at various places to pay homage and to condemn the bomb blasts, which occurred during senior BJP leader L K Advani's visit for electioneering on February 14 in 1998, claiming 58 lives and injuring 200 people.

BJP separately arranged a homage meeting at R S Puram, where the first of the 11 blasts had occurred, close to the venue where Advani was to have addressed a public meeting.
Union Minister of State Pon Radhakrishnan took part in the meeting and paid homage to a portrait of 'Bharat Mata' and also lit a lamp.

Later talking to the media, he said the meeting was organised to pay homage to those who fell to the designs of terrorists.
On reports that ISIS was planning to attack Indian cities, Radhakrishnan said Centre had taken steps to prevent any such strike. "We will not allow them to land on the Indian soil," he said.

After the minister left the venue, over 1,000 persons gathered were arrested and released later.