COIMBATORE: A major security lapse occurred ahead of Vice President CP Radhakrishnan’s maiden visit to Coimbatore after assuming office. Allegedly, two bike-borne Muslim youths brazenly rode past police personnel on Big Bazaar Street, shouting “Allahu Akbar.” The incident has raised serious questions about the preparedness and efficiency of the Tamil Nadu Police in safeguarding a constitutional authority under Z-plus security cover.
BJP cadres who attempted to stage a protest on October 29 without prior police permission were detained and kept in a marriage hall at Gandhipuram. As of the time this report was filed, they remained in police custody.
The breach took place when the two riders managed to slip through the barricaded stretch of Big Bazaar Street near Town Hall, just minutes before the Vice President’s scheduled arrival on October 28 exposing glaring lapses in the state’s VIP security arrangements.
According to Coimbatore District Media Wing President Sabri Girish, chaos erupted around 2:30 p.m. about an hour after the Vice President’s motorcade was scheduled to leave the Circuit House for the event. Two youths breached security near the Victoria Hall (Town Hall) junction and rode through the barricaded stretch for nearly 300 metres, while police personnel reportedly stood by without intervening.
The bike-borne duo shouted “Allahu Akbar” as they sped through the high-security zone. In the ensuing panic, they lost control of the bike near St. Michael’s Cathedral, fell, and fled the scene, abandoning their laptop and number plate.
BJP functionaries and cadres stationed across the road near the Corporation office jumped the barricade in anger and shouted slogans, questioning the police’s inaction. “The police didn’t even move to stop or apprehend them as they entered an area secured for the Vice President of India. If this is their response during a VIP visit, how can they guarantee public safety?” one cadre said.
The Vice President’s arrival was delayed by about 30 minutes due to the incident, which has sparked widespread concern over the serious security lapses in Coimbatore.
Coimbatore has long been regarded as a sensitive region, having witnessed several bomb blasts and communal clashes in the past that claimed the lives of Hindus. Speaking to the media, BJP Mahila Morcha chief and Coimbatore MLA Vanathi Srinivasan said, “This appears to be a well-planned act. When C. P. Radhakrishnan was an MP, serial bomb blasts occurred in the city. Now, as Vice President with Z-plus security cover and holding a key Constitutional post, the police should have exercised utmost vigilance. The two youths deliberately breached the high-security zone with the intention of sabotaging the Vice President’s visit. We suspect a deeper conspiracy behind this incident.”
She further criticised the police for downplaying the matter. “By evening, police released a statement claiming the two men were under the influence of alcohol, unaware of the event or the barricades, and were merely booked for traffic violations. We reject this explanation. This area has a history of terror activity just two years ago, there was a car bomb blast near the Sangameswarar Temple, which the DMK government initially dismissed as an LPG cylinder explosion. It was only after the NIA’s probe that it was confirmed to be a suicide bombing. The location where these youths breached security is very close to that blast site,” she said.
Vanathi Srinivasan emphasised that any lapse in the Vice President’s security is “absolutely unacceptable.” She announced that the BJP would hold a demonstration that night to protest the government’s handling of the incident.
Accusing the ruling DMK of habitual cover-ups, she said, “The so-called Dravida Model government continues to mislead the public. Even after the NIA uncovered the Coimbatore blast conspiracy and revealed details of the terror network behind it, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin still refers to it as an LPG cylinder accident. This raises grave doubts about the government’s intent. We demand a thorough, independent probe to determine whether any terrorist organisations were involved in this security breach. The state government must stop trying to suppress the truth and instead reveal the names and backgrounds of the youths involved. Failing to do so only deepens public suspicion. It is the government’s duty to dispel these doubts and ensure transparency in the investigation.”
State media wing secretary Sowmya Rani said, “As announced earlier, over 500 BJP workers led by district president J. Rameshkumar staged a protest. Due to illness, Vanathi Srinivasan could not participate. Police arrested both male and female BJP workers and detained them in a marriage hall.”
BJP leaders alleged that there was a deliberate attempt to portray Coimbatore as a riot-prone region. They claimed that the two youths involved in the incident Ashik of Ukkadam and his pillion rider Anish Rahman, 26, of Saramedu were previously booked in drug peddling cases. “Without conducting any medical examination, police hastily concluded that they were intoxicated while riding the bike. If such an incident had occurred during Stalin’s convoy, would it have been brushed aside so easily? Wouldn’t it have become a major issue?” a BJP leader questioned.
According to police, Ashik was detained on the night of October 28, while Anish was detained on the following night, October 29.
In a post on X, Vanathi Srinivasan urged, “I request the police to immediately probe any potential lapse in VIP security arrangements for this event. If any negligence is found, strict action must be taken against the responsible officers. I strongly condemn this security breach especially since Coimbatore has a history of bomb blasts. Given that the DMK government is in power, both the BJP and I have serious suspicions regarding the nature of this incident.”
இன்று மதியம் கோவை டவுன்ஹால் பகுதியில் மாண்புமிகு துணை குடியரசுத் தலைவர் திரு @CPR_VP அவர்கள் வருகை தருகின்ற சமயத்தில், இரண்டு இளைஞர்கள் காவல்துறையினரால் போடப்பட்டிருந்த தடையை மீறி முன்னேறி சென்றுள்ளனர்.
விஐபி பாதுகாப்பு ஏற்பாடுகளில் ஏதேனும் குறைபாடு இருந்ததா என்பதை உடனடியாக… pic.twitter.com/NUsXlmrJiO
— Vanathi Srinivasan (@VanathiBJP) October 28, 2025
She questioned the police’s claim that the two men were merely intoxicated and unaware of the Vice President’s visit, calling it an attempt to downplay a grave security lapse. Vanathi Srinivasan demanded an immediate and thorough inquiry into the incident, warning that if the local police and state government failed to act decisively, the BJP would seek intervention from the Union government.
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