News of a shocking crime in Coimbatore has led to widespread public and political outrage, culminating in a dramatic police “encounter” early Tuesday morning. Here is a factual breakdown of the events as reported by authorities and news outlets.
Key Developments as of November 4
- The Crime: A 20-year-old college student was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by three men late Sunday night near the Coimbatore International Airport.
- The Arrest: Three suspects were arrested by Coimbatore City Police early on Tuesday, November 4.
- The “Encounter”: During the arrest process, police shot all three accused in the legs. Officials have stated this was done after the accused allegedly attempted to escape.
- The Location: The shooting occurred in Vellakinar, near Thudiyalur, on the outskirts of Coimbatore.
- The Accused: The three arrested men have been identified by police as Guna (alias Thavasi), Karuppasamy (alias Satheesh), and Kaleeswaran (alias Karthik).
- Injuries: The three accused were taken to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for treatment of their leg injuries. A police head constable was also reportedly injured during the incident.
Timeline of Events
Based on reports from The Hindu, ANI, Mint, and The News Minute, here is the sequence of events:
Sunday, November 2 (Night)
- Around 11 p.m., the 20-year-old victim and her 25-year-old male friend were in a car in a deserted area near Brindhavan Nagar – SIHS Colony Road, behind the Coimbatore International Airport.
- Three men, who reportedly arrived on a bike, allegedly confronted the couple.
- The assailants allegedly broke the car’s window with a stone, attacked the male friend with a sickle, and forcefully dragged the woman from the vehicle.
- The men allegedly took the student to another nearby spot and sexually assaulted her for several hours.
Monday, November 3 (Morning)
- The victim’s friend, who had been severely injured and lost consciousness, regained awareness and alerted the Peelamedu police.
- Around 4 a.m., the victim reportedly managed to reach a nearby residential area and sought help.
- Both the victim and her friend were rescued by police and admitted to hospitals for treatment.
- Coimbatore City Police formed seven special teams to investigate the case and launch a manhunt for the suspects.
Monday, November 3 (Day)
- The incident sparked immediate and fierce condemnation from political leaders and women’s organizations.
- AIADMK, BJP (including Vanathi Srinivasan), TVK (led by Vijay), PMK, and the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) all released statements condemning the crime.
- Many critics, including Edappadi K. Palaniswami, blamed the incident on a deteriorating law and order situation and the prevalence of drugs.
Tuesday, November 4 (Early Morning)
- The police special teams located and arrested the three named accused: Guna, Karuppasamy, and Kaleeswaran.
- According to Coimbatore City Police Commissioner A. Saravana Sundar, the police team shot the accused in their legs at Vellakinar when they “attempted to escape” custody.
- The three injured accused were admitted to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, and a head constable was also reportedly injured.
This remains a developing story.
Full Story on Coimbatore Student Sexual Assualt Case
November 4, 2025: The city of Coimbatore is reeling from a brutal gang-rape case that took a dramatic and violent turn early Tuesday morning. Three men arrested in connection with the abduction and sexual assault of a 20-year-old college student were shot in the legs by police in what officials are describing as an “encounter” in Vellakinar.
The incident has dominated headlines and social media, with searches for “Coimbatore rape case” and “Vellakinar shooting” spiking as citizens and political leaders demand answers and action.
Here is a factual report on the case as we know it.
The Vellakinar “Encounter”
Early this morning, on November 4, the three accused—identified by police as Guna (alias Thavasi), Karuppasamy (alias Satheesh), and Kaleeswaran (alias Karthik)—were shot by a special police team.
The incident occurred in Vellakinar, near Thudiyalur, on the city’s outskirts. According to Coimbatore City Police Commissioner A. Saravana Sundar, the police team was transporting the accused when the men allegedly “attempted to escape.” Officials state this forced the police to open fire, aiming at their legs to prevent their escape.
A police head constable was also reportedly injured during the confrontation. All three accused have been admitted to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for treatment of their gunshot wounds.
Details of the Initial Crime
The police action follows a horrific crime that began late Sunday night, November 2.
- The Attack: Around 11 p.m., the 20-year-old victim and her 25-year-old male friend were in a car near the Coimbatore International Airport, in a deserted area off the SIHS Colony Road.
- The Abduction: Three assailants, who reportedly arrived on a motorcycle, confronted the couple. They allegedly broke the car’s window, severely attacked the male friend with a sickle, and forcefully abducted the student.
- The Assault: The men allegedly took the victim to a different location and sexually assaulted her for several hours.
- The Rescue: The victim’s friend, after regaining consciousness, managed to alert the Peelamedu police. The victim herself escaped and reached a residential area for help around 4 a.m. on Monday.
Investigation and Widespread Condemnation
The “Kovai girl issue” immediately triggered a massive police response, with seven special teams formed to hunt down the perpetrators. The arrests were made late Monday night, just hours before the Vellakinar encounter.
The case has also drawn fierce condemnation from across the political spectrum. Leaders from AIADMK, BJP, and TVK, as well as women’s rights groups like AIDWA, have released strong statements. Many, including former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, have publicly blamed the incident on a deteriorating law and order situation and the growing drug menace in the state.
This remains a rapidly developing story as the city processes both the brutality of the initial crime and the controversial nature of the police encounter.
