COIMBATORE (India), Oct 24: An Indian court sentenced 31 Muslims to life in prison on Wednesday for carrying out serial blasts aimed at a top politician that killed almost 60 in southern India a decade ago.

Nineteen blasts rocked the city of Coimbatore on Feb 14, 1998, as then home minister Lal Krishna Advani arrived to campaign in support of his ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Syed Ahmed Basha and Mohammed Ansari, senior leaders of the banned Islamic Al-Umma group accused of masterminding the blasts, were among the first to be sentenced on Wednesday.

“The charge is proved,” Judge K. Utirapathi told the special court hearing the bombing cases, as he read out the sentences.

Twenty-nine others, out of a total of 158 people convicted in August, were also sentenced to life in prison, while four more received 10-year jail terms.

Another 35 defendants were due to be sentenced on Thursday. Over the last two months the court had handed down sentences ranging from two to seven years to the remaining 88 people who were convicted on lesser charges.

Basha lambasted the court after hearing the verdict.

“Only the Muslims are being victimised and punished like this,” he said.

“It’s a national shame.” Advani, who survived unscathed when the bombs went off ahead of his arrival, now serves as leader of the opposition, with the BJP having lost power in general elections in 2004.

Officials say the blasts, which also wounded 250 people, were aimed at driving a wedge between Hindus and Muslims in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, where Coimbatore is located.

Security has been beefed up in Coimbatore to guard against a possible backlash following the sentencing.—AFP