Rape, POCSO accused shot at after attack on policemen near Hubballi

DHARWAD: A youth, who had impregnated a minor girl, was shot in the leg after he attacked policemen with a pen knife when they had gone to arrest him, near Sutagatti village in Hubballi taluk on Friday night. Vidyagiri police station inspector Sangamesh Didiganala and a constable suffered injuries in the incident.

Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissoner Renuka K Sukumar had formed a team to nab Saddam, who had got a minor girl pregnant. On receiving information that Saddam was near Sutagatti village, the team, headed by inspector Sangamesh reached the village to arrest him. However, Saddam tried to attack Sangamesh and a constable with a knife following which the inspector opened fire in the air.

Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissoner Renuka K Sukumar inquired about the condition of inspector Sangamesh (right) and constable Arun in the hospital.

Saddam did not give up his attempt to flee and stabbed the inspector in the knee and back. The constable was also stabbed in the left shoulder. Acting in self-defence, the inspector shot at Saddam in the leg. The accused was first taken to the government hospital in Dharwad and shifted to KIMS in Hubballi for further treatment. Another case was registered against Saddam for attacking the police personnel. The injured policemen were admitted to the government hospital in Dharwad. Police Commissoner Renuka Sukumar visited them and inquired about their condition.

Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissoner Renuka K Sukumar said a separate case will be filed against Saddam for attacking police personnel.

“A case was registered for rape and under the POCSO Act in the incident involving the minor girl and we had formed different teams to look for the accused. One of the teams received information about his whereabouts and went to secure him”, the police commissioner said.

“Just when he was being put into the jeep, Saddam, who was carrying a hidden pen knife, first attacked constable Arun in the left shoulder. When the other police personnel tried to subdue him, he attacked inspector Sangamesh in the left knee and ankle. When the policemen realised that Saddam would flee, they shot him in the leg after firing a warning shot in the air”, the police chief added.