A man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and murdering a five-year-old girl in Karnataka’s Hubballi was shot dead in a police encounter, officials confirmed. A police officer sustained injuries during the operation.
The accused, 35-year-old Nitesh Kumar from Patna, Bihar, allegedly attacked the police team escorting him to his place of stay to confirm his identity. Despite firing a warning shot, police said Kumar attempted to escape, prompting officers to open fire.
“Nitesh Kumar’s hometown is Patna in Bihar. The police team was taking him to his place of stay to ascertain his identity when he attacked the team,” said Hubballi Police Commissioner Shashi Kumar.
“In the process he damaged a police vehicle also… Meanwhile one of the police officers fired in the air, but he tried to escape. Two more rounds were fired at him. He was immediately taken to hospital, where the doctors declared him brought dead,” he added.
Sub-inspector Annapurna fired the two rounds that struck Kumar, after which the police team was able to catch him again.
Accused Booked Under POCSO Act
Nitesh Kumar faced charges of rape and murder under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The police had earlier tracked him down using CCTV footage after the child went missing from a residential area in Hubballi’s Ashok Nagar.
According to police, the accused lured the girl away while her mother was working in nearby homes. “On searching, the girl was found in the bathroom of a small sheet roofed building in front of the house from where she had gone missing. She was immediately shifted to hospital, where she was declared brought dead,” a police official said.
Victim’s Family Demands Justice
The child’s family, originally from Koppal district, is from an economically weaker background. Her mother works as a house help and beauty parlour assistant, while her father is a painter. The victim was taken along by her mother on the day she went missing.
After the child’s body was discovered, large crowds gathered outside the Ashok Nagar police station demanding justice.
Leaders React, Demand Compensation for Family
Union Minister and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi addressed the incident, calling it deeply unfortunate. “He was more violent against the police force and that time the action took place… The father and mother of the child are daily wagers. The government should provide them a good amount of compensation so that they can take care of their another child, who is differently abled,” Joshi said.
The encounter has drawn mixed reactions, but officials maintain it was a necessary response to an immediate threat to the police team. The investigation into the broader aspects of the case is ongoing.
