Day after shootout, Hubballi police chief inspects site of encounter; 5-yr-old’s last rites held

HUBBALLI: A day after Ritesh Kumar (35), a native of Patna in Bihar, and accused in a POCSO and murder case related to a five-year-old was killed after a shootout, Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner N Shashikumar visited the site of encounter on Monday.

The accused seen carrying away the child.

The police commissioner told Public TV, “The forensic team has collected evidence from the scene. The accused, who was being taken to his house for spot inspection, diverted the attention of the police personnel and tried to flee after damaging the vehicle and attacking them. Sub-Inspector Annapurna fired a few warning shots and then shot at him. Ritesh died in hospital and the autopsy was conducted. We will wait for a couple of days for the family, but if no one turns up, then we will hand over the body to the city corporation for the last rites”.

#WATCH | Hubballi-Dharwad, Karnataka: Hubballi Police Commissioner N Shashikumar inspected the spot at which the accused in a POCSO and murder case related to a 5-year-old was killed in an encounter after he attacked the police team yesterday

According to the police, the accused… pic.twitter.com/EFcnbsLzTz

— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2025

On the health condition of the police sub-inspector and the two constables who were injured, the police commissioner said they are stable now and undergoing treatment at KIMS Hospital. “If their families desire, we can shift them to private hospitals closer to their homes”, he said.

Meanwhile, after the post-mortem examination was conducted at KIMS in the presence of magistrate K R Patil, the last rites of the five-year-old girl were conducted at the Devangapet burial grounds as per Kuruba traditions. Later, social worker Adityaraj handed over Rs 1 lakh in cash as relief to the parents.

Sub-Inspector Annapoorna who shot at the accused.

Woman sub-inspector Annapurna of the Ashoknagar police station, who shot at Ritesh Kumar, hails from Gujanatti village in Mudalagi taluk of Belagavi district and is recuperating in hospital. She is scheduled to get married next month. She was the first to see the child after it had been killed and had broken down in hospital. She hails from a poor farmers’ family and had cleared the UPSC Prelims last year.

The two other police personnel, who sustained injuries in the shootout. Minister Santosh Lad called on all the injured police personnel in hospital.