A heart-wrenching crime in Karnataka’s Hubballi claimed the life of a five-year-old girl on Sunday, triggering grief and outrage in the city. The accused, Ritesh Kumar, a 35-year-old labourer from Patna, Bihar, was fatally shot by police the same day during an attempted escape.
According to officials, the child was allegedly lured by Ritesh with chocolates while playing outside the house where her mother, a housemaid, was working. Her father, a painter, was not present at the time. When the mother noticed her daughter was missing, she immediately raised an alarm.
Residents joined the search and discovered the child’s body in a deserted area of Adhyapaka Nagar. Police suspect the girl may have been s*xually assaulted, though they await confirmation from the post-mortem.
Commissioner N Shashi Kumar of Hubballi-Dharwad city stated that Ritesh had been working in the city for the past few months. When taken into custody, he allegedly tried to flee and attacked the officers. In response, police fired at him, hitting his leg and back. He was declared brought d”ad at Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute.
The incident sparked public protests, with residents demanding strict justice. CCTV footage of the accused walking with the girl has since gone viral, further fuelling outrage.
Union Minister and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi condemned the incident on social media, expressing deep sorrow and calling for swift justice.
