A dramatic police chase in Tamil Nadu saw a Coimbatore head constable cling to the roof rails of an SUV for more than 40 km as three suspected smugglers attempted to flee with around 230 kg of banned tobacco products. The high-speed chase went on for several hours through Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts and the three suspects were arrested.
M. Velmurugan, 38, a head constable assigned to Kovilpalayam police station, had climbed onto the SUV after its driver tried to escape during an interception. The vehicle was allegedly carrying a large quantity of gutkha, a banned tobacco product, and had a Karnataka registration number.
According to police officers, the operation began after authorities received specific information about the alleged transportation of banned tobacco products from Bengaluru to Coimbatore. A police team led by Neelambur Inspector P. Thiyagarajan spotted the white SUV in Vellanaipatti and informed officers at Kovilpalayam police station.
Sub-Inspector V. Vignesh and Head Constable Velmurugan were ordered to intercept the vehicle at Kaikolapalayam at 5.45 a.m. But the situation escalated when the SUV driver tried to escape while officers were interviewing the occupants.
In a high-octane chase that looked like something out of a movie, a Coimbatore policeman clung onto the roof rails of an SUV for over 40 km as three persons from Rajasthan attempted to escape with banned tobacco products.
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According to police, Vignesh was speaking to the occupants through an open window when the driver suddenly raised the window glass, trapping one of the officer's hands. The driver then reversed the SUV in an attempt to get away. Velmurugan, who was holding the vehicle with his other hand, climbed onto its roof and grabbed the roof rails.
The SUV then sped away with the head constable still clinging to its roof. Velmurugan reportedly held onto the rails as the vehicle travelled through Kalapatti, Nehru Nagar junction and the airport junction before reaching Avinashi Road and heading towards Tiruppur along the busy Salem-Kochi Highway.
Police said the SUV was going at a high speed, sometimes over 100 kmph. Velmurugan remained on top of the vehicle to prevent the suspects from escaping from the dangerous conditions. Sub-Inspector Vignesh followed the SUV in a private car, while Inspector Thiyagarajan and his team followed it in a police vehicle.
The chase also alerted the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) during the chase, one source said. An ambulance was also deployed to ensure the safety of the policeman who was on the moving SUV. The ambulance crew also took video of Velmurugan clinging to the vehicle.
The police also notified the Kaniyur toll gate to stop the SUV. But after its FASTag triggered the boom barrier, the vehicle passed through and the suspects continued their escape.
Eventually, the chase ended close to Mangalam junction in Tiruppur district after the SUV was blocked by Avinashi police. The three suspects fled the vehicle and escaped by foot.
They were identified as Babu Dhara, 27, A. Rajesh, 23, and S. Suresh, 20. Police pursued and arrested all three, ending the long chase. Two of the suspects apparently had fractures to their upper limbs during the escape attempt.
The SUV was found to be carrying some 230 kg of gutkha. Police are investigating the alleged transportation network and the route through which the banned tobacco products were allegedly being brought from Bengaluru to Coimbatore.
Velmurugan would later say that he climbed onto the SUV to avoid the suspects escaping. He said after the vehicle accelerated, he clutched tightly onto its roof rails and remained determined not to give up.
The head constable’s performance received praise from senior police officers, Tamil Nadu ministers and citizens of Tamil Nadu on social media. The dramatic footage of the policeman holding onto the speeding SUV also attracted widespread attention.
The case has highlighted the dangers faced by police personnel while attempting to intercept suspected illegal transportation. The investigation is expected to include the source of the gutkha, the intended destination and the involvement of the three arrested men in the suspected smuggling operation.
