New Delhi, April 13 -- A 35-year-old man, who kidnapped and killed a minor girl in Karnataka's Hubballi, was killed in an encounter as he tried to flee from police trying to nab him, officials said on Sunday.

The accused was identified as Ritesh Kumar, police said, adding that he was accused of kidnapping and killing a four to five-year-old girl. Kumar, hailing from Patna, attempted to flee from police.

"This morning in the Vijayanagara area, within the Ashok Nagar police station limits of Hubballi-Dharwad City Commissionerate, a four to five-year-old girl's body was found in an abandoned shed. Following verification of CCTV footage and information from locals, the girl's body was located... The accused, identified as Ritesh Kumar (35) ...