Sustained efforts by police brought communal clashes under control after 1998 serial blasts in Coimbatore, says former DGP K Radhakrishnan

Coimbatore: Former Director General of Police Dr K Radhakrishnan IPS said sustained efforts by police brought communal clashes and deaths under control after 1998 serials blasts in Coimbatore.Speaking at the 100th Founders' Day celebrations of PSG Institutions, held at the PSG Institute of Technology and Applied Research, Neelambur, Dr K Radhakrishnan said the efforts made by police also ensured peace and stability in the city after the serial blasts.Radhakrishnan spoke about the importance of institutional responsibility and collective effort in maintaining social harmony, drawing from his experience during challenging periods in Tamil Nadu's history. He said, "An IPS officer in India is more than a law enforcer, a guardian of the Constitution. The serial blasts of February 1998 were not just an attack on human lives but an attempt to shatter the social fabric and economic backbone of the city. Restoring order was our mandate, but the real challenge was deeper than law enforcement; it was to restore the trust of the public. The first communal murder took place in 1989 and the last in 1998, during which 103 communal murders and 1,080 violent incidents took place. Since then, 28 years have gone by with no communal incidents reported in the city. The resilience of the people of Coimbatore is truly immense and a key factor in restoring normalcy." The chief guest of the event, S Padmanabhan, chairman of Tata Chemicals Limited and Rallis India Limited, spoke on the changing social landscape and its impact on education. He noted that the shift from joint families to nuclear families has influenced the social behaviour of the younger generation, who now form the core of today's student population. These changes place new responsibilities on educational institutions and teachers. He said, "Learning methods, use of technology and student–teacher interactions are evolving rapidly, calling for greater empathy in engaging with students." Stressing on collaborative learning, he said discussions, questions, and debates would help shape the minds and models of the future.The event marked contributions of PSG & Sons' Charities to education and social development for over a century.As part of the celebrations, PSG Vishwa Gnana Rathna and PSG Vishwa Seva Rathna awards were conferred on four distinguished individuals for their contributions in public service and social development. Dr Radhakrishnan and Dr RV Ramani, founder and managing trustee of Sankara Eye Foundation, were honoured with the PSG Vishwa Seva Rathna award. Prof Navakanta Bhat, Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and Sudha Ragunathan, carnatic vocalist, were honoured with the PSG Vishwa Gnana Rathna award.