Coimbatore Rape: 3 Accused Arrested After Being Shot By Tamil Nadu Police

Three men accused of abducting and gang-raping a 20-year-old college student near Coimbatore International Airport were arrested on Monday after being shot in the legs during a police operation.

The suspects-identified as Guna, Karuppasamy, and Karthik alias Kaleeswaran-allegedly attacked police officers with sickles while attempting to evade capture near a temple in Vellakinaru, on the city's outskirts, NDTV reported.

Head Constable Chandrasekhar sustained injuries to his wrist and arm during the confrontation. In response, officers opened fire, injuring the accused before taking them into custody. All three were admitted to Coimbatore Government Hospital along with the injured officer.

According to police, the suspects hail from Sivagangai district and were employed in construction work in Coimbatore. Karuppasamy and Kaleeswaran are reportedly related, and all three have prior criminal records.

The assault occurred late Sunday night in Brindhavan Nagar, behind the airport. The victim and her male friend were sitting in a parked car when the accused allegedly arrived on a moped, smashed the windshield, attacked the man, and abducted the woman. She was then taken to a secluded area and sexually assaulted.

In the aftermath, Coimbatore police formed seven special teams and reviewed CCTV footage to track the suspects. Their swift arrest, however, has not quelled public outrage.

Political Fallout
The incident has triggered a wave of political condemnation, with opposition parties accusing the ruling DMK government of failing to ensure women's safety.

AIADMK leader and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami questioned the effectiveness of the state's law enforcement, announcing statewide protests. "Is there a functional police force under Chief Minister MK Stalin?" he asked.

Former BJP state president Annamalai called the crime "utterly shocking" and blamed the DMK regime for emboldening anti-social elements. "There is a clear tendency to protect sexual offenders," he alleged, adding that the government prioritizes silencing critics over maintaining law and order.

Actor-politician Vijay, head of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), also weighed in, urging Stalin to "wake up" and restore public safety. "A gang rape took place before the wounds of the Anna University sexual assault have even healed," he said, referencing a high-profile case from December 2024.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also expressed concern, calling the incident "a failure by the state police" and asking, "How many more Nirbhayas?"