A five-year-old girl was allegedly strangled to death after an attempted rape in Karnataka's Hubballi. The accused, identified as Ritesh Kumar from Bihar, was killed in a police encounter on April 13, 2025, after attacking officers during an arrest attempt. The incident has shocked the local community, leading to protests demanding justice.

According to police reports, Ritesh Kumar, aged 35, took the young girl to a shed and attempted to rape her. The girl was playing in front of her house when she was abducted, an act captured on CCTV footage. Hearing the girl's screams, nearby residents rushed toward the shed. Frightened, the accused allegedly strangled the girl and fled the scene.

The police registered a case against him for murder under the POCSO Act and for attacking and attempting to murder police personnel. During questioning, authorities learnt that Ritesh had been living in Hubballi for three months, working at construction sites and hotels. "He had confessed to the crime," police said, adding that he was originally from Patna and had been away from home for several years, taking up odd jobs.

Police encounter and investigation

When police attempted to arrest Ritesh, he resisted violently. Hubballi Police Commissioner Shashi Kumar explained, "Ritesh tried to flee after throwing stones at police when they took him to his place of stay to collect some of his documents and verify his identity." He added, "In response, our woman officer, Sub-Inspector 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 to stop him from escaping. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead."

One sub-inspector and two other officers were injured in the attack and are receiving treatment. The police have sent a team to Patna to gather more information about Ritesh’s background.

 

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