Three Men Arrested After Kidnapping and Sexual Assault of College Student in Coimbatore: Political Backlash Intensifies in Tamil Nadu

Three men have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman college student near an airport in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore on Sunday.

The accused -- Thavasi, Karthik and Kaliswaran -- were arrested after a brief encounter with the police early Tuesday. They were shot in the legs and have been taken to the hospital.

The woman, a student at a private college in Coimbatore, was in a car with her male friend when the accused allegedly kidnapped her, forcibly took her to another location, and sexually assaulted her.

A senior police officer indicated that seven special teams were formed to search for the accused.

The incident has ignited significant political controversy in Tamil Nadu, where assembly elections are scheduled for early 2026, with opposition parties criticizing Chief Minister MK Stalin's government regarding law and order and women's safety.

The Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), who has announced protests in Coimbatore and across the state, questioned the effectiveness of the police force under Chief Minister MK Stalin's administration.

The BJP also organized a protest in Coimbatore and announced statewide demonstrations, citing concerns about insufficient police personnel.

BJP's K Annamalai described the Coimbatore incident as "utterly shocking" and claimed that since the DMK government assumed power in Tamil Nadu, repeated crimes against women demonstrate that criminals do not fear legal consequences.

He further alleged that DMK ministers and law enforcement tend to protect sexual offenders, and that the government utilizes police to arrest critics rather than ensure public safety.

Actor-politician Vijay, who leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), urged Stalin to "wake up" and questioned the state of law and order and public safety in Tamil Nadu.

He referenced the Anna University sexual assault case from December, where the perpetrator was recently sentenced to life imprisonment, noting that this new incident occurred before the wounds from the previous case had healed.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson also criticized the state police for failing to prevent the assault, making a reference to the infamous Nirbhaya case.

The ruling DMK and senior police officials have previously refuted allegations regarding an increase in sexual crimes against women in the state.

They maintain that offenders face swift and stringent action, with expedited trials, citing the recent Anna University conviction as evidence.

DMK spokesperson Dr Syed Hafeezullah acknowledged that despite various measures, unfortunate incidents against women continue to occur, but emphasized that each case receives prompt and severe consequences, contextualizing these incidents within a broader national trend of crimes against women.