COIMBATORE: Al-Umma founder SA Basha, who masterminded the 1998 serial bomb blasts that ripped Coimbatore killing 58 people, passed away due to age-related illness on Monday evening.

He was 84 years old and is survived by his wife Razeeda, son Siddiq Ali and three daughters. Basha, who was on parole, had suffered a deterioration in health at his residence in South Ukkadam on Sunday evening.

He was then admitted to a private hospital by family members, where he died on Monday, around 5.20 pm.

His body is likely to be taken on procession from his residence to Hyder Ali Tippu Sultan Sunnath Jamaath Masjid at Flower Market on Tuesday evening.

As a precaution, police security has been beefed up at his house and along the procession route.

In the serial bomb blasts on February 14, 1998, ahead of BJP leader LK Advani’s visit to Coimbatore for a poll campaign, 58 people died and more than 200 suffered injuries. Basha was among 14 others convicted to life imprisonment and he has been in prison for the last 25 years.