A trapped hand, a speeding SUV and a desperate climb: How cops stopped a gutka run in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: A police head constable foiled an attempt by three smugglers to escape in a gutka-laden sports utility vehicle, by clinging to the top of the vehicle on Avinashi Road till a highway patrol team intercepted the gang at Karumathampatti near here on Sunday morning.Head constable, M Velmurugan, claimed that the chase started at Vilankurichi and he clung on to the SUV till Karumathampatti, which is about 40km away. The three smugglers have been arrested.Acting on a tip-off, a police team led by Kovilpalayam sub-inspector Vignesh and head constable Velmurugan attempted to stop the SUV (KA 05 NG 7692) at Vilankurchi near Kovilapalayam around 5.45am.Velmurugan climbed atop the SUV when the driver slowed the vehicle but refused to halt and sped towards Avinashi. The constable clung atop the SUV by holding the roof rails of the vehicle despite the smugglers driving the vehicle athigh speed.Vignesh immediately informed the Karumathampatti police and highway patrol team on Avinashi Road, who chased the vehicle for nearly an hour and eventually intercepted it at Karumathampatti and saved Velmurugan without any injuries.Police found more than 100kg of gutka products in the car and identified three smugglers travelling in the car as P Babu Dhara, 27, A Rajesh, 23 and S Suresh, 20, all from Rajasthan.They were smuggling the contraband from Karnataka to Coimbatore. Police seized the contraband and the car.Meanwhile, prohibition and excise minister K Vignesh and minister for backward classes welfare RS Rajakannappan spoke to Velmurugan over a video call and congratulated him for his bravery.They said they would take Velmurugan’s daring act to the attention of chief minister C Joseph Vijay.Later, Velmurugan told TOI, “When we approached the vehicle, the driver stopped and rolled down the window. While we were questioning the occupants, he started moving the car and closed the window, trapping the SI’s hand inside. Our SI ran for a few metres with his hand trapped inside. Luckily, the SI fell on the road without any injuries, but I climbed atop the SUV. I realised the suspects should not be allowed to escape, so I held on to the rails tightly till they were captured. As police personnel, we were just doing our duty.”You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Coimbatore | Silver Rate in Coimbatore | Bank Holidays in Coimbatore | Public Holidays in Coimbatore | Coimbatore AQI | Weather in Coimbatore | Petrol Price in Coimbatore | Diesel Price in Coimbatore | CNG Price in Coimbatore | LPG Price in CoimbatoreStay updated with the latest Coimbatore news. Download the TOI App.