A highway chase turned into a scene from a movie on Saturday when a gang hurled country-made bombs at a police van on the Trichy-Chennai highway. The target was Vellai Kali, a notorious history-sheeter being transported from Madurai to Chennai for questioning. The attack, which took place near the Perambalur toll plaza, has set off a firestorm of criticism over the safety of the state’s own police force.
According to Inspector General Balakrishnan, the police were actually expecting trouble. They had received intelligence that a hit might be attempted and had assigned an armed escort led by a sub-inspector. The gang made their move when the team stopped for a meal break. In the chaos that followed the incident, the sub-inspector had to open fire to push back the attackers and chasing them off. While the police managed to protect the prisoner, reports suggest four officers were hospitalised with serious injuries after the explosions.
The political backlash was immediate. AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami didn’t hold back, mocking the timing of the incident. He pointed out that while CM MK Stalin was "patting his own back" in the Assembly regarding the state's performance, criminals were busy lobbing bombs on a major highway. Palaniswami argued that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has stripped the police of their independence, leaving criminals with "absolutely no fear" of the law.
The BJP also joined the fray, with state president Nainar Nagenthran calling the situation "utterly shocking." He questioned how the public could feel safe when even uniformed officers are being targeted in broad daylight. Nagenthran slammed the government for what he called "social media posturing" while real-world security continues to slide.
Five special teams are currently scouring the region for the attackers. The IG has promised swift arrests, but for now, the incident has left the administration scrambling to defend its grip on law and order.
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