Police nabbed one of the five women who escaped from the Government- run protective home in Kannusamy Gounder Street in Ganapathy on Saturday night. Police said they succeeded in nabbing Sophia (23) from Bengaluru city and were confident of nabbing the others very soon.

The five, sheltered in the government-run shelter exclusively for women forced into sex racket and flesh trade, overpowered the warden Deepa, and the cook by throwing chili power at them and then escape, using night as cover.

Thudiyalur police registered a case and formed five teams to nab and rescue the escapees and bring them to Coimbatore.

“The four police teams headed by Inspector Vetrivendan, have gone to Kolkota, Tirupur and Bengaluru to rescue the escapees. We are in pursuit of them and all the remaining four will be secured and brought back to Coimbatore before Monday night,” Thudiyalur sub-inspector Karuppasamy Pandian told Covai Post.

Two each among those who escaped are from Kolkata and Bengaluru and one is from Tirupur. The five plotted their escape on Saturday night as the security guard was absent that day. They ganged up, threw chili powder at the warden, locked her up in the kitchen and after snatching the main-gate key from her, they made good their escape using night as cover.