India, Oct. 21 -- The Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government has courted controversy by granting 60 days' parole to five men serving life terms for the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts, which were also aimed at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran L K Advani.

Fifty-eight people were killed and 250 were injured in a series of blasts over a span of four days.

On Monday, the Tamil Nadu government granted 60-days parole to five convicts on grounds of personal reasons, including health conditions, people aware of the details said. The convicts - Mohammed Ansari, Mohammed Ali, Monappa alias Mohammed Hassan, Mohammed Ajam and Nawab Khan - lodged in Coimbatore central prison have served over 20 years in prison.

One of the convicts sought parole, saying ...