Coimbatore sexual assault case: 3 held for attacking college student near airport; shot in leg while fleeing

Three persons have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a college student near Coimbatore International Airport – a case that sparked political outrage, sending shockwaves across the country. Coimbatore City Police Commissioner Saravana Sundar confirmed the arrest of three accused in the Coimbatore sexual assault case and said they were shit in the leg as they tried to escape.

The three accused have been identified as Guna, Karuppasamy, and Karthik alias Kaleeswaran.

“The accused were trying to escape from the spot when the police had to shoot them in the leg in Vellakinaru, on the outskirts of Coimbatore city,” Coimbatore City Police Commissioner confirmed, ANI reported.

All three accused have been admitted to Coimbatore Government Hospital after sustaining injuries in the encounter, during which a head constable was also hurt. The investigation is currently underway. Also Read | Woman alleges assault at Kolkata nightclub, Park Street gang-rape link suspected: What did police say

The unidentified miscreants attacked and chased away the male friend of the 19-year-old college student and allegedly sexually assaulted her on November 2 night at a secluded spot, police said. Both the student and her friend have been admitted to a hospital.

Following the incident, seven special teams were formed to trace and nab the culprits, police said.

Meanwhile, the Coimbatore sexual assault case has sent shockwaves across the state. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader K Annamalai accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of shielding sexual offenders. He claimed anti-social elements no longer fear the law or the police since the DMK came to power. Also Read | West Bengal shocker! Medical student from Odisha, who went out for dinner with friend, 'gang-raped'

“From DMK ministers to police officials, there has been a disturbing pattern of shielding sexual offenders instead of ensuring justice. The DMK government has utterly failed in both preventing sexual crimes and providing safety for women,” he alleged in a post on X.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said the chief minister, who holds the home department portfolio, should direct the police to immediately find the assailants and render justice to the student.

Condemning the state government allegedly for undermining women's safety, Palaniswami said during the AIADMK regime, Tamil Nadu was the leading state in India where women lived safely. Women's safety was ensured totally by the Amma's (late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's) government, he said.

"A few months ago, I inaugurated a programme in Chennai, on behalf of the AIADMK, to provide women with a box containing pepper spray, torches, and other safety items. The party functionaries continued to distribute the kit throughout Tamil Nadu," the former chief minister said on ‘X’.

(With agency inputs)