Revolt against Basha, new leader takes over Al-Umma

By V. S. Palaniappan

COIMBATORE, APRIL 25. The banned outfit Al-Umma has split in the Coimbatore Central Prison and the general secretary, Md.Ansari, has become the new ``Amir'' (Leader). Al-Umma was charged with triggering communal unrest in Coimbatore and soon after the February 14, 1998 serial blasts, it was banned and its frontline leaders and cadres were taken into custody. Now 166 cadres are in the prison as undertrials.

Owing to persistent differences and simmering discontent against the decade old-presidentship of S.A. Basha, Ansari has taken over as the ``Amir''. According to intelligence sources, Al-Umma stands polarised, with a feeble minority with Basha and the rest with Ansari. Unable to overcome the opposition or counter the charges levelled against him, Basha has given up leadership, paving the way for Ansari to succeed him. The same has been communicated to prison authorities, saying the new Amir would represent the grievances and problems of the prisoners.

Though health and age of Basha were cited as the reasons for the sudden turn of events, the charges against Basha's leadership include mortgaging of the interests of the organisation and its cadre for selfish reasons, ensuring that Al- Umma remains violent by giving instructions to kill members of its own community, branding them police informants.

Basha has also been accused of creating a ruckus in court and the prison, giving the impression that Al-Umma still was violent. He was accused of improperly handling the funds that came from abroad.

None of the Al-Umma cadres had been able to get bail even after three years of imprisonment, the group led by Ansari charged.

The revolt against the leadership could also be attributed to the advice given to Md.Ansari and his followers by the group led by the Kerala-based PDP chairman, Mr.Mahdhani, and his men, who wanted Al-Umma to mellow down and change their image.

Recently, all the Al-Umma cadres met in the prison and decided to go in for a leadership change. Only 15 out of the 161 voted in favour of Basha, while the rest favoured Ansari.

Hardcore elements, Zakir Hussain, Subair Ali, Siddiq Ali and Tajudeen, continue to remain with Basha, while his brother Nawab Khan, has chosen to be with Ansari.

The change in the leadership has been communicated to the cadre outside as well as to related outfits. Forty-odd members of the minority community from Karunanidhi Nagar here owing affiliation to the Tamizhaga Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) are also with Ansari's group.

The change in leadership became quite evident when Ansari sat in the first row at the special court, while Basha was in the sixth row and remained totally silent. Ansari kept making representations seeking bail for some of the cadres and for taking a lenient view in appointment of counsel. Anticipating trouble in the wake of the divide, the prison administration said it was fully geared to handle any situation.

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Section  : Southern States
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