A 19-year-old college student was allegedly sexually assaulted near Coimbatore International Airport on the night of November 2 . Three unidentified men reportedly attacked the student and chased away her male friend at a secluded spot, police confirmed. Law enforcement has launched a major search operation for the culprits.
Both the student and her friend received medical attention. They were admitted to a hospital following the incident.
Police Investigation Underway
Seven special teams have been formed to investigate the case. These teams are actively working to identify, trace, and apprehend the three individuals responsible for the alleged assault, according to police officials.
Political Leaders Condemn Incident
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from various political parties across Tamil Nadu, sparking demands for immediate and stringent action against the perpetrators.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami urged the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home Department portfolio, to direct police to swiftly find the assailants and ensure justice for the student. Palaniswami criticized the state government, alleging a decline in women’s safety. He stated that during the AIADMK’s tenure, Tamil Nadu was a leading state for women’s safety. Palaniswami also mentioned distributing women’s safety kits, including pepper spray and torches, on behalf of AIADMK.
Union Minister L Murugan expressed shock, stating that the incident shows no reduction in heinous crimes against women in Tamil Nadu. Murugan, also Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, called the assault in a key Coimbatore area an example of the state government’s and police’s “incompetence.” He urged the Tamil Nadu government to provide necessary treatment and compensation to the victim, demanding strict punishment for all involved anti-social elements.
BJP state chief Nainar Nagendran announced a statewide protest demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits. Coimbatore South MLA and BJP Mahila Morcha president Vanathi Srinivasan called the incident another “black mark” on the ruling DMK. She claimed Chief Minister Stalin would be remembered for “pathetic governance” regarding women’s protection.
BJP leader K Annamalai claimed that since the DMK assumed power, anti-social elements show less fear of law enforcement. He alleged a pattern where DMK ministers and police officials shield sexual offenders instead of ensuring justice. Annamalai stated the DMK government has failed in both preventing sexual crimes and ensuring women’s safety.
Other political parties, including PMK, TVK, and various Left parties, also condemned the assault. They collectively demanded the state government take decisive steps to bring the culprits to justice.