Accused shot and arrested in connection with Coimbatore rape incident
Three men have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman college student near an airport in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore on Sunday.
The accused — Thavasi, Karthik and Kaliswaran — were arrested after a brief encounter with the police early Tuesday. They were shot in the legs and have been taken to the hospital.
The woman, a student at a private college in Coimbatore, was in a car with her male friend when the accused allegedly kidnapped her, forcibly took her to another location, and sexually assaulted her.
A senior police officer had told NDTV that seven special teams were formed to search for the accused.
The incident sparked sharp political reactions in Tamil Nadu, where the assembly elections are due in early 2026, with the opposition targeting the Chief Minister MK Stalin-led government over law and order and safety of women.
The Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), who has announced protests in Coimbatore and across the state, asked, “Is there a functional police force under Chief Minister MK Stalin?”
The BJP also held a protest in Coimbatore last evening and announced statewide agitations, alleging a severe shortage of police personnel.