Coimbatore cops open fire, nab 3 UP burglars

COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore police on Thursday arrested three men from Uttar Pradesh, who allegedly broke into 13 houses in a Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) complex at Kavundampalayam the previous day, after shooting them in their legs when they attempted to escape and reportedly attacked a head constable.

Police said the suspects had entered the 14-storey housing complex around noon on Wednesday, pretending to sell utensils and clothes.

As most residents — largely government staff — were away at work or in schools, several houses were locked. The trio allegedly broke open doors in A and B blocks and stole 56 sovereigns of gold, Rs 3 lakh cash and half a kilo of silver, before fleeing in an autorickshaw that was waiting nearby.

Residents alerted the Kavundampalayam Police after finding their locks broken.

Special teams were formed under the supervision of Police Commissioner Saravanasundar. CCTV footage helped trace the autorickshaw, leading investigators to a rented house in the Kuniamuthur–Kulathupalayam area, where the suspects were staying.

Around 9.15 am on Thursday, the police moved in to arrest them. One of the suspects allegedly stabbed head constable Parthiban with a knife while attempting to escape, prompting the police to open fire and shoot the trio below the knee. All four were taken to Coimbatore Government Hospital for treatment.

The arrested men have been identified as Irfan (43) of Majidpura, Kallu Arif (60) of Gajwala, and Asif (45) of Ghazipur, all from Uttar Pradesh. Investigators said they arrived in Coimbatore by train three days earlier and surveyed the TNHB complex while accompanying associates who sold utensils in the neighbourhood.

Police said they had booked return tickets to UP and were preparing to flee with the stolen jewellery and cash, which were stashed in their rented room.

Their fingerprints have been circulated to other states, and preliminary checks indicate involvement in multiple house break-ins across India.

Police said the three will be taken into custody for further interrogation once they recover.