Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 14: The Karnataka government has ordered an enquiry into the police encounter that resulted in the death of the accused in the brutal murder of a minor girl in Hubballi.
Home minister G Parameshwara, addressing reporters on Monday, confirmed that senior officers have been directed to probe the incident and establish the facts. The accused, identified as Ritesh Kumar from Patna, Bihar, had allegedly abducted and killed a five-year-old girl on April 13.
According to police, the accused was taken into custody based on CCTV footage and local inputs. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime but provided inconsistent details about his identity. While being escorted to an abandoned house where he claimed to be staying, he reportedly attacked police personnel by pelting stones. In self-defence, Police Sub-Inspector Annapurna fired warning shots before shooting at the accused, who later succumbed to injuries despite efforts to save him.
"The accused attacked our personnel. PSI Annapurna, along with constables Yashwant and Veeresh, sustained injuries. In response, minimum force was used. Two bullets hit the accused — one on his leg and another on his back," Hubballi-Dharwad police commissioner N Shashikumar said.
Parameshwara stated that the government would not only investigate the encounter but would also review the involvement of migrant labourers in crimes across the state.
"Migrant workers arrive from various parts of the country, especially in cities like Bengaluru that are seeing rapid growth. However, we have seen rising incidents of criminal activities involving outsiders. While migration cannot be prevented, appropriate measures will be discussed with the labour department," he said.
The shocking incident has sent shockwaves through the region. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused abducted the child while her mother, who works as a domestic help, was at her workplace. The girl’s body was later discovered in a shed.
A medical examination is underway to confirm whether the child was sexually assaulted, authorities said.
Following the incident, the parents staged a protest in front of Ashokanagar police station, demanding justice for their daughter.
Labour minister Santhosh Lad visited the hospital and met the grieving parents on Monday. Speaking to media persons, he said, "This is an inhuman act. As a father, I could not bear to see the child’s body. The post-mortem report will bring clarity on whether sexual assault occurred."
The state government is expected to hold a joint meeting soon to discuss stricter measures to prevent crimes involving migrant workers.