Hubballi has been shaken by a brutal crime in which a five‑year‑old girl was kidnapped and murdered, and the accused was later shot dead in a police encounter. The incident has triggered anger, protests and a wider debate on child safety and encounter killings in the city.
Police say the child was lured away on a Sunday morning within Ashok Nagar police station limits, while her mother was at work in nearby houses.
The accused, identified as 35‑year‑old Ritesh (also reported as Ritesh/Nitesh) Kumar from Patna in Bihar, allegedly took the girl to a nearby abandoned shed or bathroom area.
A few hours later, locals and police found the girl’s body in a deserted tin‑roofed structure close to where she was last seen. She was rushed to hospital but declared brought dead, with police suspecting sexual assault, pending confirmation from the post‑mortem report.
CCTV footage from the neighbourhood captured the man walking away with the child, which quickly spread on social media and helped police identify and trace him. According to the Hubballi–Dharwad Police Commissioner, multiple teams were formed and a manhunt launched, leading to his arrest within hours of the body being found.
Later that evening, while being taken for further questioning and spot inspection, the accused allegedly tried to escape custody.
Police say he attacked officers, damaged a vehicle and threw stones, forcing them to fire warning shots before shooting him in the leg and chest when he did not stop.
The injured man was shifted to KIMS Hospital in Hubballi, where he was declared dead. At least one policeman was hurt during the scuffle, and a case of attempted murder of police personnel has also been recorded against the accused.
The child’s parents, originally from Koppal district, work as daily‑wage workers — the father as a painter and the mother as a domestic worker and beautician. Their daughter’s death has led to widespread grief in the locality, with political leaders and officials visiting the family to offer condolences.
Soon after the crime came to light, hundreds of residents gathered outside Ashok Nagar police station, demanding fast and strict justice.
Some protesters blocked the Hubballi–Dharwad stretch and raised slogans, questioning how such a crime could take place in broad daylight in a busy residential area.
Human‑rights groups and activists have asked for a detailed inquiry into the encounter, arguing that even in heinous cases, police must follow Supreme Court guidelines on use of force.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has since taken over the probe into the encounter, and the High Court has been urged to ensure evidence is preserved and all procedures are followed.
For many in Hubballi, the case is a painful reminder of gaps in child safety, neighbourhood vigilance and background checks on transient workers.
Police have appealed to parents, schools and residents to be extra alert, monitor children closely, and immediately report any suspicious movement around them.