In a chilling case that has sparked outrage across Karnataka, a man accused of kidnapping and killing a five-year-old girl was shot dead by police on Sunday evening while attempting to escape custody in Hubballi.
What Happened to the Girl?
The victim, a five-year-old girl, had accompanied her mother—who works as a domestic help—to a house in the city on Sunday morning. While playing nearby, the girl was reportedly lured away by the accused, Ritesh Kumar, 35, originally from Patna, Bihar. He allegedly approached her with chocolates, according to police. The girl’s mother soon noticed her missing and raised an alarm. Locals joined in the search and, tragically, the girl’s body was later found in an abandoned building in Adhyapaka Nagar.
According to investigators, sexual assault is suspected but not confirmed. Police officials have said that a medical examination is underway. “There is no information as of now. The cause of death and any possible assault will be verified through further investigation,” said Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar.
WATCH THE VIDEO:
Karnataka: In Hubballi, a 35-year-old man named Ritesh Kumar from Bihar, accused of abducting, raping and murdering a 5-year-old girl, was killed in a police encounter after attempting to escape. Three police officers were injured during the incident pic.twitter.com/S3Vx73zump
— IANS (@ians_india) April 13, 2025
Accused Tracked and Interrogated
Kumar, who had reportedly arrived in Hubballi two to three months ago and was living in an abandoned house near the Tarihal underpass, was identified through CCTV footage and local leads. “The CCTV footage clearly captures him committing the crime,” said the Commissioner. “He shared very little information and failed to establish his identity conclusively,” Kumar added.
He was booked for murder under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and also charged with attacking police officers.
How the Encounter Unfolded
While in custody, Ritesh Kumar was taken to his makeshift residence to retrieve documents and confirm his identity. That’s when he allegedly attacked the police team, throwing stones and attempting to escape.
“Our woman officer, PSI Annapurna, fired a warning shot in the air. When he did not stop, two to three rounds were fired at him. One bullet struck his leg, and another hit his back,” said Commissioner Kumar.
A separate FIR has been registered for assaulting police personnel. A sub-inspector and two other officers were injured and are receiving treatment. Ritesh Kumar was rushed to Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute, where doctors declared him “brought dead.”
Political Response and Community Outrage
Karnataka Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed defended the police action. “The commissioner has given me the information that the accused tried to hit the lady inspector, and in self-defence, she had to fire at him. It is not a failure of law and order,” he said. “Our police are competent enough to take action, so have they.”
The incident has triggered protests in front of the Ashok Nagar police station, where angry residents demanded justice for the child and harsher action against child predators.
Meanwhile, a police team has been dispatched to Patna to gather more details about Ritesh Kumar’s past. “He had confessed to the crime,” officials confirmed.
The case remains under investigation, with a post-mortem report awaited to determine whether sexual assault was involved.
