Coimbatore gang-rape: Three accused arrested after encounter as constable injured

In a shocking incident that has triggered outrage across Tamil Nadu, a 20-year-old postgraduate student was abducted and gang-raped near Coimbatore International Airport on Sunday night. The Coimbatore City Police arrested three men following an encounter in which all three sustained leg injuries and a police constable was hurt.

According to police officials, the survivor and her male friend were sitting in a car parked at Brindhavan Nagar, a locality behind the airport, when three men arrived on a two-wheeler around 10.30 pm. The assailants allegedly smashed the car’s windshield, attacked the man with a sickle and forced the woman into their vehicle before speeding away.

The woman was taken to a secluded area roughly a kilometre away, where the trio allegedly assaulted her. Her friend, who suffered head injuries, regained consciousness several hours later and alerted the Peelamedu Police Station. A rescue team located the woman around 4 am and shifted her to hospital for treatment.

Investigators soon discovered that the two-wheeler used in the crime was a stolen TVS 50 moped, reported missing from Kovilpalayam the previous week. Tracking the movements of the stolen vehicle, analysing CCTV footage from over 200 locations, and tracing a stolen iPhone belonging to the victim’s friend provided key leads. A mobile-phone shop owner’s alert about the attempted sale of the phone helped police zero in on the suspects.

Seven special teams were deployed to trace the accused, who were eventually cornered on the outskirts of Coimbatore near Vellakinaru late Monday night. Police said that when officers moved in to arrest them, the trio attacked with sickles, injuring a head constable. In retaliation, police opened fire, shooting all three in the legs to prevent their escape. They were taken into custody and admitted to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital under police supervision.

The accused were identified as Guna, Karuppasamy and Karthik alias Kaleeswaran, originally from Sivaganga district and working as construction labourers in the city. Preliminary checks revealed they had prior criminal records related to theft and assault.

Chief Minister M. K. Stalin condemned the crime, directed police to file the charge sheet within a month, and assured that the government would seek the maximum punishment for the offenders. He also ordered a review of women’s safety measures in and around educational and public areas in Coimbatore.

The incident has renewed public concern over the safety of women and students in urban Tamil Nadu. Women’s rights groups and student organisations have called for better night patrolling, improved street lighting, and stricter enforcement of gender-safety protocols.

Police Commissioner V. Balakrishnan stated that the investigation is continuing to collect forensic evidence and corroborate the survivor’s statement. “The case will be taken to its logical conclusion with all legal procedures followed,” he said.