Coimbatore Rape and Assault Highlights Grave Security Lapses: Poor Lighting, No CCTV Surveillance Near Airport Under Scanner
A horrifying crime near Coimbatore International Airport has spotlighted serious security gaps in one of the city’s prominent public corridors.
A 20-year-old postgraduate student was allegedly abducted and raped late Sunday night after her boyfriend was brutally assaulted — an incident that unfolded in a dark, isolated stretch with no CCTV coverage.
Poor Lighting, No Cameras — A Crime Waiting to Happen
The assault took place in a poorly lit, deserted zone close to the airport, an area locals say has long lacked proper streetlights and surveillance systems despite frequent public movement nearby.
Authorities now admit that these infrastructural gaps posed a major hurdle, both in preventing the crime and in tracking the assailants swiftly.
According to initial police findings, the couple — who had reportedly been in a relationship for around five years — had returned to the spot after dinner.
The road is known to be deserted after dusk, with virtually no illumination and no operational CCTV cameras, creating a perfect environment for criminals to act unnoticed.
Attack in the Dark
At around 11 pm, three unidentified men allegedly arrived on a stolen two-wheeler, smashed the car windshield with a stone, and attacked the young man.
He was dragged out, assaulted with stones and sticks, and left severely bleeding with six major head injuries requiring 28 stitches.
Under the cover of darkness and with no surveillance systems to deter or identify them, the assailants forcibly took the woman away to a nearby shed-like structure, nearly a kilometer from the spot where the crime allegedly occurred.
She was threatened and later abandoned around 4:30 am.
Delayed Response Amid Isolation
The boyfriend, who lost consciousness briefly, regained awareness and managed to drive toward the airport road, where he sought help.
Passersby alerted authorities, and emergency support arrived. Meanwhile, the survivor reached a nearby residential area and contacted the police.
Both victims are currently hospitalized.
Investigation Hindered by Lack of Tech Surveillance
Top-ranking crime and city police officials inspected the scene soon after midnight. Seven special teams are now tracking the accused, but investigators admit critical time and investigative scope were lost due to the absence of CCTV cameras and minimal lighting.
A senior official stated: The lack of lighting and surveillance has complicated the probe. We are examining all technical angles and monitoring every possible movement recorded in nearby zones.”
Preliminary investigation suggests the motorcycle used in the crime was stolen from Kovilpalayam earlier the same night.
A Wake-Up Call for Urban Safety
The incident has sparked concerns about security preparedness near key public infrastructure such as airports. Residents and safety advocates are urging authorities to immediately install streetlights, CCTV cameras, and increase police patrols in vulnerable zones.
This case stands as a grim reminder that the absence of basic safety systems can cost lives and dignity — and that modern cities must not leave blind spots where crime can thrive unchecked.
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