After the girl’s body was found, hundreds of residents from Adyapak Nagar gathered in front of the police station calling slogans and demanding justice.
Published Apr 13, 2025 | 6:54 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 14, 2025 | 12:26 PM
Five-year-old girl raped and killed in Hubballi
Synopsis: A five-year-old girl was found dead in an abandoned building in Hubballi, Karnataka, after being allegedly abducted, and strangled by a labourer from Bihar. The suspect, 35-year-old Ritesh Kumar, was later shot dead by police when he reportedly attempted to escape from custody after his arrest.
A five-year-old girl was found dead in an abandoned building in Adyapak Nagar, Hubballi, Karnataka, on Sunday, 13 April, after being abducted and allegedly strangled. The victim’s parents have filed a complaint alleging rape before the murder.
The suspect, identified as Ritesh Kumar, 35, a labourer from Patna, Bihar, was later shot dead by police when he reportedly attempted to escape from custody.
According to Police Commissioner of Hubballi-Dharwad, Shashi Kumar, the girl was playing outside the house where her mother works when she was lured away.
“The five-year-old girl was playing in the front yard of the house where her mother works. The accused lured her with chocolates. This has been recorded in CCTV. He has taken her into an abandoned building,” the Commissioner said.
“The girl started screaming when the accused assaulted her. When the locals started gathering, he choked her to death. He fled the spot immediately. I have visited the hospital where the girl’s body has been sent for examination.”
Police say they apprehended Kumar, who had been working at a local construction site for two to three months, but he attempted to escape custody.
“Our department was successful in nabbing the accused, Ritesh Kumar, who is from Patna. He has also accepted the offence committed on a five year old girl today.”
He continued: “However, when he tried to escape from the police custody and assaulted three police constables, we fired in the air so that we can stop him. But he continued to run. Therefore, we fired a bullet in his leg. But he didn’t stop. We had to fire him in the back. He was declared brought dead by the doctors at KIMS Hospital in Hubballi. This incident has taken place in Tharihal cross on the outskirts of Hubballi. It will come under Gokul Road Police station.”
He added, “The accused also stated that he has been in Hubballi for two to three months. He worked in a construction site here. Even before this he was in some other town. We are trying to ascertain his path of travel and his roots in Patna. Our team will also go to his native and conduct thorough investigation.”
Shashikumar has also requested the public not to spread misinformation on this issue or fall for it.
Meanwhile a woman constable and two men constables who were injured badly were brought to the KIMS hospital for treatment.
When asked about the details in the medical reports, he said, “The reports are yet to be given to us.”
After the incident was reported, hundreds of residents from Adyapak Nagar gathered in front of the police station calling slogans and demanding justice from the police.
Meanwhile, Prahalad Joshi, MP and Union Minister, has asked the police to speed up their investigation process. “I condemn the rape and death of this girl, such incidents must not happen. It is unfortunate! The accused should be taken into custody soon and must be given rigorous punishment as per the law. The state government has to take this incident seriously.”
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
