Three men were arrested in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman college student near the city’s airport. Coimbatore Police Commissioner confirmed on Tuesday that the accused were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime.

According to the police, the woman was travelling with her male friend late on Sunday night when the suspects, identified as Thavasi, Karthik, and Kaliswaran, intercepted their car. The trio allegedly smashed the vehicle’s windshield with a stone, attacked the man with a sickle, and abducted the woman before taking her to a separate location and raping her.

Police sources said two of the accused are brothers, while the third is a distant relative. All three reportedly have a criminal history, including charges of murder and theft. Two of them had recently been released on bail. They are also suspected of stealing a motorcycle, as reported by NDTV.

Encounter Leads to Arrests

The suspects were tracked down and arrested following a brief encounter with the police early on Tuesday. Officials said they were shot in the leg after attempting to flee and was admitted to hospital at the time of reporting. The police stated that evidence collected from multiple sources clearly links the three men to the crime.

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Authorities denied allegations of any delay in responding to the survivor’s distress call. The incident occurred around 10:40 pm on Sunday, and police were informed shortly after 11 pm. Despite the suspects escaping before officers arrived, teams combed three separate locations before apprehending them. The survivor and her friend have since provided statements and received psychological counselling.

Political Reactions in Tamil Nadu

The assault has triggered sharp political reactions ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) criticised Chief Minister MK Stalin’s administration, questioning the state’s law and order situation and announcing protests across Tamil Nadu. The BJP also staged demonstrations in Coimbatore, alleging an acute shortage of police personnel.