Rape case accused shot at after he attacked policemen near Thoothukudi

Police shoot gang-rape suspect after he attacks officers; suspect and accomplice sustain injuries, hospitalized for treatment.

Police shot at a gang-rape case accused after he attacked a Sub-Inspector of Police and a constable with sickle when they tried to arrest him on Monday (February 24, 2025) evening.

Sources in the police said two unidentified persons, who forcibly entered a house in a residential area on the outskirts of Kovilpatti a few days ago in the night, sexually assaulted a woman, who was living with her baby, at knife-point. After she informed about the incident to her husband who was working in a neighbouring State, he rushed back to his native place to meet his wife.

The couple then registered a complaint with the Kovilpatti West police station. Subsequently, the fingerprint and the forensic experts visited the scene of crime and pressed sniffer dog into service to identify the culprits.

During investigation, the police identified the culprits as G. Mariappan, 28, of EB Colony on Kovilpatti – Tirunelveli 4-lane national highway and his associate V. Mariselvam, 27, of Veeravanchi Nagar in Kovilpatti, who went underground.

Following an information that Mariappan was hiding in the hillock near Kovilpatti, a police team rushed to the spot to nab him on Monday (February 24) evening. On seeing the police coming to his place, Mariappan tried to escape and fell down from a rock in which he suffered fracture on the right leg. He was admitted to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Based on the information provided by Mariappan, another police team, led by sub-inspector Raja Prabhu, was sent to arrest Mari Selvam, who was hiding in the forest near Koottaampuli under Pudukottai police station limits in Thoothukudi district. When Mari Selvam attacked Mr. Raja Prabhu and police constable Ponram with sickle, they sustained cut injuries on the hands.

As Mr. Raja Prabhu opened fire at Mari Selvam in self defense, the culprit sustained injury in the left leg. He has been admitted to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.