Three men accused of abducting and raping a college student in Coimbatore were shot in the legs and arrested after they allegedly attacked a police officer during a chase early Monday. The late-night crime near the city’s airport has triggered widespread outrage and political reactions across Tamil Nadu.
Police identified the accused as Thavasi, Karuppasamy, and Kaaleeswaran, construction workers from Sivaganga district with previous criminal records. Around 10.45 p.m. on Sunday, the trio allegedly attacked a college student and her male friend who were sitting in a parked car near Brindhavan Nagar. The men, reportedly drunk, smashed the car’s window, assaulted the man, abducted the woman, and sexually assaulted her in a secluded spot.
Following the assault, they tried to flee on a stolen two-wheeler. A special police team tracked them using footage from over 300 CCTV cameras and cornered them near a temple in Vellakinaru. When the suspects attacked Head Constable Chandrasekhar with a sickle, police opened fire in self-defence, injuring all three in their legs before taking them into custody.
The accused and the injured officer are undergoing treatment at Coimbatore District Government Hospital. Police Commissioner V. Saravana Sundar stated that the survivor is receiving counseling and medical support. He urged the media not to publish the suspects’ photos until the identification parade is completed to protect the survivor’s privacy.
The crime has triggered widespread outrage across Tamil Nadu. AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami and BJP leaders Nainar Nagendran and Vanathi Srinivasan accused the DMK government of failing to ensure women’s safety. Union Minister L. Murugan called the incident a “black mark” on the state’s record and demanded swift justice.
Police have assured a fast-track probe as pressure mounts to strengthen security and prevent repeat offences.
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