40-km chase, cop on car roof: How gutkha smugglers were caught in Tamil Nadu
Head Constable Velmurugan, who clung onto the car's roof during the chase, is being widely praised by the public for his courage.
A policeman clung onto the roof of a car as a group of suspected tobacco smugglers tried to evade police pursuit for around 40 kilometres in Tamil Nadu.
A consignment of nearly 300 kg of gutkha and other banned tobacco products was being transported in the vehicle, according to officials. A video of the police chase has also surfaced.
Three men have been arrested in connection with the matter. Head Constable Velmurugan, who clung to the car’s roof during the chase, is being widely praised by the public for his courage.
The pursuit began after a police team near Coimbatore stopped a car during a routine vehicle check. The police personnel noticed several sacks of goods kept in the rear section of the car.
When a Sub-Inspector moved to inspect the sacks, the three occupants allegedly pushed the cops, locked the car doors and tried to speed away.
Acting swiftly, Head Constable Velmurugan reportedly jumped onto the roof of the car and held on.
The car travelled through multiple busy stretches on the outskirts of Coimbatore and reached a toll plaza.
Police said the driver paid the toll using FASTag before the four-wheeler crossed the barrier and continued driving at high speed.
Meanwhile, motorists who spotted Head Constable Velmurugan clinging dangerously to the roof of the moving car recorded the incident on their mobile phones.
After receiving information about the chase, police teams in neighbouring Tiruppur district, along with ambulance crews, also sprang into action to intercept the car.
The chase, which continued for nearly 40 km, finally ended there. Police vehicles and ambulances surrounded the car and brought it to a halt.
While one of the three men inside the vehicle was taken into custody immediately, the remaining two managed to flee initially.
They were, however, caught following a search operation. The car was also seized by the police.
The accused have been identified as Babu Dhara (27), Rajesh (23), and Suresh (20).
During interrogation, the three men allegedly told the police that they were transporting the tobacco products from Bengaluru to Coimbatore for delivery.
Further investigation into the case is underway.
Ambulance personnel and volunteers who assisted the police in pursuing the vehicle and rescuing Velmurugan have also been praised.