Coimbatore Police Shoot Sexual Assault Suspect After Attack on Inspector

A police investigation into the abduction and sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in Coimbatore turned violent on Sunday, September 13, 2026, resulting in a police shooting of one of the two suspects. The incident occurred while officers were attempting to recover a weapon allegedly used during the commission of the crime.

The two suspects, identified as 24-year-old Santhosh and 28-year-old Thavasi, both residents of Kanjikonampalayam, were arrested by the Coimbatore City Police following a complaint filed by the survivor and her parents at the All Women Police Station (South) on Saturday evening. The victim reported that she had been abducted on a two-wheeler, taken to a house in the locality, and sexually assaulted before being released.

Following the initial arrests, police interrogated the suspects to locate evidence. Thavasi informed investigators that a sickle used to threaten the victim had been concealed at a local graveyard. A police team led by Inspector I. Sornavalli (also referred to as Suvarnavalli in some reports) escorted Thavasi to the site to recover the weapon.

According to official police accounts, upon reaching the location, Thavasi retrieved the hidden sickle and launched a sudden attack on Inspector Sornavalli, inflicting an injury on her shoulder. As the suspect attempted to flee the scene and continued to threaten the officers, Sub-Inspector Silambarasan opened fire in self-defense, striking Thavasi in his left leg. Both the injured inspector and the suspect were subsequently transported to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Authorities have registered a case against both Santhosh and Thavasi under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The Coimbatore City Police have stated that the investigation into the abduction and assault remains ongoing, with further legal action pending against the accused.

In a statement regarding the incident, the police emphasized that cases involving sexual offenses against children are being treated with the highest priority, with a focus on the safety and privacy of the victim. The survivor has been provided with counseling and underwent a medical examination at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital as part of the standard investigative procedure. The police have not yet disclosed the next procedural milestone, such as the date for the suspects' initial court appearance, as the investigation into the circumstances of the assault and the subsequent confrontation continues.