Private college student abducted and sexually assaulted near airport
In a deeply troubling incident late on Sunday night in Tamil Nadu, a female student pursuing her MBA at a private college in Coimbatore was allegedly gang-raped by three men near Coimbatore International Airport. Reports say she was sitting in a car with her male friend when the attackers struck. The crime has raised serious concerns about safety near major urban hubs and for female students in campus-adjacent areas.
The three men reportedly approached on a stolen two-wheeler, broke the car window, assaulted the friend and forcibly took the woman to a secluded spot about a kilometre from the airport. There, the sexual assault allegedly occurred before the culprits abandoned the woman and fled. The friend sustained serious injuries and has been admitted to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.
Search operation launched; special police teams mobilised
Following the friend’s alert to police, search teams were deployed in the early hours of Monday. At about 4 am, the survivor was located behind a private college near the airport area and rushed to a nearby private hospital for treatment. The accused remain at large. Police have formed seven special teams to trace their whereabouts and prosecute them.
Authorities are analysing CCTV footage from the airport-adjacent zone and questioning witnesses to piece together the timeline of the crime. The stolen two-wheeler used in the incident was reportedly taken from Kovilpalayam earlier that night. Meanwhile, the local law enforcement has come under scrutiny as public anger mounts over rising crimes against women in Tamil Nadu.
Safety concerns intensify in Coimbatore and Tamil Nadu
This incident adds to growing unease about campus-adjacent safety, especially for women in the late evening in urban outskirts. While the state government has emphasised faster trials and stricter laws, critics argue that enforcement remains weak.
Experts say isolated locations near major transit hubs like airports can become vulnerable spots after dark, particularly when perpetrators use stolen vehicles and target couples. Local safety audits and increased patrolling in such zones are now being demanded by student groups and civil-society organizations.
Given the severity of the assault and the accused still at large, local residents have expressed fear and anger. The college where the student was enrolled is yet to issue a detailed public statement. The government has promised updates as the investigation progresses.
Legal and institutional response expected
Police say they will charge the perpetrators under provisions relevant to abduction, gang rape and other serious sexual offences. The state prosecution unit is likely to seek speeding up the case given the public interest involved. Investigators also want to trace the network, if any, that enabled the crime-scene escape manoeuvre, stolen vehicle use and site selection.
Meanwhile, institutional mechanisms that protect women students are being called into question. The college’s student welfare and safety protocols will likely be reviewed. Security near late-night transit points and parking zones will also come under scrutiny.