Tamil Nadu cop's daring 40-km ride on car roof ends in gutkha smugglers' arrest

A policeman clung to the roof of a car as a group of suspected tobacco smugglers allegedly tried to evade police pursuit for 40 kilometres in Tamil Nadu.A consignment of around 300 kg of gutkha and banned tobacco products was being transported in the vehicle, according to the police. A video of the police chase has also surfaced.Three men have been arrested in connection with the matter. The daring actions of the policeman who held on to the car's roof during the chase have drawn widespread appreciation.Head Constable Velmurugan and Sub-Inspector Vignesh of the Kovilpalayam police station near Coimbatore, along with other personnel, were conducting a routine vehicle check when they intercepted a luxury car suspected to have arrived from Karnataka.The police noticed several sacks of goods in the rear of the car. When Sub-Inspector Vignesh attempted to inspect them, the three occupants, reportedly from Rajasthan, allegedly pushed the cops, locked the car doors and suddenly sped away. Seeing this, Head Constable Velmurugan reportedly jumped onto the roof of the moving car and held on. Despite noticing the police personnel chasing them, the suspects allegedly continued driving at high speed.The car travelled through Vilankurichi, Kalapatti Four Roads and Chitra before heading towards the Kaniyur toll plaza. Police said the driver paid the toll using FASTag, crossed the barriers and continued speeding away. Meanwhile, motorists who saw Head Constable Velmurugan hanging dangerously from the roof of the moving car recorded the incident on their mobile phones.After receiving information about the chase, Kaniyur police personnel, along with ambulances from Kaniyur, LG Hospital, Bala Ortho Hospital and the 'Sinegam' ambulance service, joined the pursuit. Avinashi police were also alerted and moved to intercept the vehicle.The chase, which continued for nearly 40 km, finally ended near the Annapoorna Hotel in Avinashi. Police vehicles and ambulances surrounded the car and brought it to a halt.After the car was stopped, two of the occupants allegedly fled, while police immediately apprehended one of them. Following a search operation, the other two suspects were also arrested by Avinashi police.During interrogation, police said the three men were from Rajasthan and had allegedly transported around 300 kg of banned gutka and tobacco products from Bengaluru, intending to deliver them in Coimbatore.The police have arrested all three suspects and seized the car. Further investigation is underway.Members of the public have appreciated the courage of Head Constable Velmurugan, who reportedly held onto the roof of the moving car for nearly 40 km and helped the police apprehend the suspects.Ambulance personnel and volunteers who assisted the police in pursuing the vehicle and rescuing the head constable have also been praised.- Ends(With inputs from Pramod Madhav)