A 35-year-old man accused of raping and murdering a five-year-old girl in Karnataka's Hubballi was shot dead in an encounter with the police on Sunday, officials said.
The accused, identified as Nitesh Kumar, allegedly attacked the police team when they attempted to apprehend him.
#WATCH | Hubballi-Dharwad, Karnataka: On an encounter between police and an accused in a POCSO case, Karnataka Government Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed says, "The commissioner has given me the information that the accused tried to hit the lady inspector and in self-defence, she had to… https://t.co/Has5Zc1OVT pic.twitter.com/89CLGnYueQ
— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2025
Despite a warning shot, he tried to flee, prompting police to open fire. He was later declared dead at KMC-IR Hospital, police said, adding that three police personnel were injured during the operation.
The incident occurred hours after the child was allegedly kidnapped and killed in Hubballi's Vijayanagar area. Her body was found in an abandoned building.
Outraged by the incident, a large number of residents from the locality gathered in front of the Ashok Nagar police station on Sunday morning and staged a protest, demanding justice for the victim's family.
"In the Ashok Nagar PS area, a 5-year-old girl was found in one of the abandoned buildings. She was shifted to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival...we have taken up the complaint of the girl's parents, legal action will be taken...the mother of the girl works as a housemaid, and while she had gone to work, girl went missing...residents of the people are agitation outside Ashok Nagar Police station...once the identity of the accused is established, we will take necessary action," N Shashi Kumar, Police Commissioner, Hubbali, Dharwad said.
#WATCH | Hubballi-Dharwad, Karnataka: On an encounter between police and an accused in a POCSO case, Hubballi Police Commissioner N Shashikumar says, "Today morning in Vijayanagara area under Ashoknagar police station of Hubballi-Dharwad, there was an incident where 4 to… pic.twitter.com/f8tKigWWET
— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2025
#WATCH | Hubballi-Dharwad, Karnataka: On an encounter between police and an accused in a POCSO case, Karnataka Government Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed says, "The commissioner has given me the information that the accused tried to hit the lady inspector and in self-defence, she had to… https://t.co/Has5Zc1OVT pic.twitter.com/89CLGnYueQ
— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2025
A case was registered at the Ashok Nagar police station in Hubballi.
Police immediately brought him to KMC-IR, where doctors declared him dead.
Earlier, a massive protest was held for a whole day at various places in Hubballi by various organisations.
(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
You may also like
FIEO urges Centre for strategic support to sustain trade growth momentum
IPL 2025: My wife chills, I do all the cooking, reveals KKR's De Kock
Iconic 90s car colour to go extinct as quarter of Brits choose grey
Chelsea confirm huge deal for possible Marc Cucurella replacement as transfer message sent
Amy Childs 'all over the place' as mum rushed to hospital after a heart attack