A 19-year-old college student was allegedly gang raped by three men near the Airport area in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, on Sunday night. According to police, the woman was with her friend in a car when the accused approached them, assaulted her friend, and abducted her from the spot.
Police rescue victim, special teams formed
The friend immediately alerted the authorities, prompting a swift search operation by the Coimbatore Police. The victim was later found unconscious in a secluded area and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police have said her condition is currently stable.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the three accused had stolen a motorbike earlier that evening before committing the crime. They allegedly took the woman to an isolated stretch, where she was sexually assaulted.
In response, police have formed seven special teams to trace and arrest the culprits. Senior officials, including the Coimbatore City Police Commissioner, are monitoring the investigation.
Political reaction and criticism of state government
The brutal assault has triggered widespread outrage and renewed debate over women’s safety in Tamil Nadu. Former state BJP president K Annamalai criticised the ruling DMK government, calling the incident a “reflection of the administration’s failure” to protect women.
In a post on X, Annamalai wrote, “Since the DMK government came to power, crimes against women have increased. Anti-social elements have no fear of the law or the police.” He further alleged that there was a “tendency to protect sexual offenders” within the ruling dispensation and accused the state of misusing police resources to target critics instead of ensuring safety.
He added that Chief Minister MK Stalin should hang his head in shame over the deteriorating law and order situation, urging swift justice for the survivor.
Pattern of rising sexual assault cases
This incident follows another shocking case from February 2025, when seven college students were arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl in Coimbatore’s Kuniyamuthur area.
The students, enrolled at a private college, had befriended the minor through a social media app. When she did not return home after meeting one of them, her family filed a missing complaint. She was later found and revealed that she had been sexually assaulted by multiple students.
The recurrence of such cases has led to calls for stronger policing, faster judicial processes, and awareness programmes to ensure women’s safety in public spaces.
Police assure swift action
Officials have assured that the accused in the latest case will be apprehended soon and charged under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act. The investigation continues under close supervision of senior officers.