The 14th anniversary of the serial blasts in Coimbatore on Tuesday was marked by a series of demonstrations by various Hindu outfits at R.S. Puram.

Hundreds of activists from Hindu outfits defied police orders banning any type of demonstration and gathered at R.S. Puram in the afternoon.

Earlier, activists from organisations such as the Hindu Makkal Katchi, Hanuman Sena, Shiv Sena, Swamy Vivekanandar Peravai, Sri Ram Sena and other organisations took a rally carrying a ‘memorial stone’ that is to be laid in remembrance of those killed in the blast.

The demonstrators were dispersed by police.

A group of activists belonging to the VHP held rituals at Perur Patteeswarar temple to those killed in the blast. HMK’s Arjun Sampath demanded that a memorial be built at R.S. Puram in memory of the 56 persons killed on this day in 1998. He said that more than 600 persons injured in the blast were still not given due compensation by the government. “While the kin of those killed in the blast were given compensation, the injured were denied any help,” he said.

Muslim outfits have urged that Feb. 14 be declared as ‘harmony day’ by the district administration to promote love and mutual understanding among people from different communities.

“Now that the memories of the ill-fated day has almost faded away from the minds of youngsters, instead of still reminding them about the grim incident by holding demonstrations, we have proposed to the district administration to declare it as harmony day to develop mutual trust and friendship among members of different communities,” said treasurer of charitable trust for minorities ‘Kovai’ Thangappa.