Coimbatore: Police have launched a search for a four-member gang who fled after repeatedly and brazenly assaulting a duo with a sickle and knife near the Coimbatore court premises on Tuesday morning.
The incident took place in broad daylight in a prime area near district collector's office, court, police commissioner's office, Race course police station and South Taluk office. The gang chased the victims for some 500 meters and repeatedly hacked them while thousands of people witnessed the cinema-style violence.
According to police, Pradeep, 19, a resident of Ganapathy-Kamarajarpuram was released on conditional bail recently by the district court in connection with a case registered by Saravanampatty police following a group clash near Ganapathy.
Pradeep along with his friend, Tamil 25, came to the court on Tuesday morning. After recording Pradeep's signature in the bail register, the duo was returning in a moped when the gang chased them in two motorcycles.
The duo dropped the moped and began to run for safety. The gang chased them and hacked them with a sickle and knife repeatedly. Motorists and pedestrians passing the stretch panicked and raised an alarm.
The gang fled and people rushed the duo to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where they are being treated in the ICU. Preliminary investigations revealed prolonged enmity as a possible cause.
The gang members identified as Satheesh, Hari, Dhanabal and Surya from Ganapathy area, are on the run. Special teams have been formed to nab the gang and further probe is on.
