Coimbatore: Various Hindu outfits today paid homage to the 58 persons killed in the 1998 serial blasts here on its 10th anniversary by performing poojas and taking a pledge to maintain peace and harmony.

A group of Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) (Tamizhakam), led by its Tamil Nadu unit president, Arjun Sampath, lit 58 lamps at the famous Koniamman Temple, the presiding deity of the city, as a mark of respect to those killed.

They also took a pledge to maintain peace and prevent recurrence of such attacks in future, police said.

Some Hindu Munnani workers performed pooja and an annual ritual, usually carried out for the dead, at the Noyyal River at Patteeshwarar Temple in Perur, on the outskirts of the city

Meanwhile, seven members of HMK (Hanuman Sena), tonsured their heads and performed the annual rites for the dead at the river, they said.

Security has been tightened in and around the city and adequate police personnel have been deployed in sensitive areas, particularly in R S Puram, where the BJP is scheduled to pay floral tributes to the victims at a function later in the evening.

The serial blasts rocked the city on Feb 14,1998 during the visit of BJP leader L K Advani, claiming 58 lives and injuring around 200 people.
Source : PTI