Three men accused of gang raping a college student near Coimbatore airport were shot and arrested by Tamil Nadu Police after allegedly attacking an officer while attempting to escape, officials said Monday.
The suspects, identified as Thavasi, Karuppasamy, and Kaaleeswaran, were cornered by special police teams near a temple in the city. When confronted, they reportedly attacked the officers with sickles, injuring Head Constable Chandrasekhar on his left wrist and arm.
Police opened fire in retaliation, shooting the accused in their legs before arresting them. All three men were taken to the Coimbatore District Government Hospital for treatment, along with the injured constable.
According to police sources, the accused are natives of Sivagangai district and were employed in construction work in Coimbatore. Karuppasamy and Kaaleeswaran are said to be relatives, and all three have criminal cases pending against them.
The incident took place on Sunday night when the accused allegedly approached the college student and her male friend, who were parked in a car near the airport area.
They reportedly attacked the man, abducted the woman, and fled the scene. The trio then took her to a secluded area near the airport, where they allegedly committed the sexual assault.
The brutal assault has sparked widespread outrage across Tamil Nadu, with opposition parties demanding swift justice.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami condemned the DMK-led state government, alleging a deterioration in women’s safety. “During the AIADMK regime, Tamil Nadu was the leading state in India where women lived safely,” he said.
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Union Minister L Murugan also expressed concern, saying the incident reflected the continuing rise of heinous crimes against women in the state.
BJP state president Nainar Nagendran announced a statewide protest, while Coimbatore South MLA and BJP Mahila Morcha president Vanathi Srinivasan called the case “yet another blackmark” on the ruling DMK government.
BJP leader K Annamalai said the incident was symptomatic of a larger breakdown of law and order. “Since the DMK came to power in Tamil Nadu, anti-social elements no longer fear the law or the police,” he said.
The Coimbatore City Police have launched a detailed investigation into the assault and subsequent encounter, while the condition of the injured officer and the three suspects remains stable.
The horrific crime has reignited debates over women’s safety and law enforcement in Tamil Nadu, with political parties urging the government to take strong action to prevent such incidents in future.
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