Overview

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the abduction, rape, and murder of a five-year-old girl in Hubballi, as well as the subsequent custodial death of the accused, Ritesh Kumar.
• Notices have been issued to Karnataka's Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, requiring comprehensive reports, including post-mortem and magisterial inquiry findings, within four weeks.
• The NHRC highlighted potential human rights violations involving both the minor victim and the accused killed in an alleged police encounter on April 14, 2025.
• Police claim Ritesh Kumar attacked officers while being taken for questioning, leading to fatal gunshot injuries, though this account has raised procedural and accountability concerns.
• Public protests erupted outside the Ashok Nagar police station following the discovery of the victim's body, with demands for swift justice and transparency in the investigation.