In a chilling incident late Saturday night, three unidentified assailants attacked a Q Branch head constable and robbed his wife of gold ornaments after stopping their car on a deserted road near Sulur, on the outskirts of Coimbatore.
The incident occurred around 11:50 p.m., when V. Parthiban (45), a driver attached to the Coimbatore Q Branch, and his wife P. Revathi were returning home to Chinniyampalayam after dinner at a nearby restaurant. In an attempt to take a quicker route, Parthiban opted for a dirt road located about 3 km off the L&T Bypass.
According to police sources, the couple was suddenly waylaid by three armed men wielding sickles and knives. As Parthiban exited the car in shock, the attackers assaulted him with a sickle, inflicting injuries on his head and back. The gang then snatched six sovereigns of gold jewellery, including a thali chain and rings, from Revathi before fleeing the scene.
Revathi promptly alerted the Sulur police, who arrived at the location and launched an investigation. The injured couple was rushed to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, where Parthiban is said to be in stable condition.
A case has been registered and a manhunt is under way to trace the suspects involved in this targeted and violent robbery.