Coimbatore student assault: Police arrest 3 after shootout, political tension escalates in Tamil Nadu
Coimbatore – Coimbatore witnessed outrage after a shocking sexual assault near the city’s international airport on Sunday night. Police acted swiftly and arrested three men—identified as Guna, Karuppasamy, and Karthik alias Kaleeswaran—linked to the crime.
On Tuesday, Coimbatore City Police Commissioner Saravana Sundar confirmed their arrest. He said officers opened fire when the accused tried to flee during the chase in Vellakinaru, on the city’s outskirts. “They attempted to escape, forcing the police to shoot them in the legs,” Sundar said. He also mentioned that a head constable sustained injuries during the encounter.
The accused are now receiving treatment at Coimbatore Government Hospital. Peelamedu police tracked them down after scanning CCTV footage from multiple locations. Investigators found the trio hiding in an isolated area in Vellakinaru. Officials said all three have prior criminal records.
According to police sources, the suspects attacked officers when cornered. One constable suffered minor injuries before the team returned fire. One accused sustained a bullet wound in one leg, while the other two were hit in both legs. Police later took them into custody and shifted them to the hospital under tight security.
Meanwhile, details of the incident have triggered anger and fear across Tamil Nadu. The 22-year-old survivor was with a male friend in a parked car near Coimbatore airport around 11 p.m. on Sunday. The accused smashed the car window, assaulted her friend, and abducted the young woman. They took her to a secluded area and sexually assaulted her before fleeing.
Police formed seven special teams to locate the accused. By Monday morning, they rescued the survivor and moved her to a hospital for treatment. Her condition remains stable, according to officials familiar with the case.
The assault has reignited political tensions in the state. BJP state president K. Annamalai condemned the incident and accused the DMK government of failing to ensure women’s safety. “Since the DMK came to power, anti-social elements have lost fear of the law,” he wrote on X. Annamalai alleged that ruling party leaders and police officials often shield offenders instead of enforcing justice.
In response, DMK leaders called the BJP’s remarks politically motivated. They said police acted promptly and arrested the culprits within 48 hours. However, the incident continues to spark debate about women’s safety and rising crime rates in Tamil Nadu.
Public outrage has grown as citizens demand stronger preventive measures. Women’s rights groups have urged the state to improve street surveillance and fast-track sexual assault trials.
As the survivor recovers, Coimbatore police continue their investigation. The case has exposed deep public concern over safety and accountability, pushing authorities to act faster and more transparently in crimes against women.
