Hamirpur rape-murder accused shot in police encounter after firing at cops
Synopsis
A man accused of raping and strangling a three-year-old girl in Hamirpur, UP, was shot in both legs after he allegedly opened fire on police during a crime-scene evidence visit — having earlier tried to hide among the search party alongside the child's own parents.
Key Takeaways
Accused Hiralal was shot in both legs in a police encounter in Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh on 2 November 2026 .
He allegedly fired at police with an illegal country-made pistol when taken to the crime scene for evidence collection.
The victim was a three-year-old girl whose body was found in an agricultural field under Muskara police station limits on 1 November .
The accused reportedly joined the victim's family search party and allegedly attempted to mislead them before arousing suspicion.
Additional SP Arvind Kumar confirmed the arrest and the encounter, stating the case was registered on the father's complaint.
Further investigation into the case is underway.
An accused in the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur district was shot and injured in a police encounter on Monday, 2 November 2026, after he allegedly opened fire at a police team during evidence collection at the crime scene. The accused, identified as Hiralal, sustained bullet injuries in both legs, according to police officials.
What Happened at the Crime Scene
Police had taken Hiralal to the site of the crime to assist investigators in collecting evidence when he allegedly produced an illegal country-made pistol and opened fire at the accompanying police team. Officers retaliated in self-defence, injuring him in both legs. He was first treated at a Community Health Centre (CHC) before being referred to the district hospital for further care, officials said.
How the Crime Came to Light
The case surfaced on 1 November when the young girl's body was discovered in an agricultural field under the limits of the Muskara police station, triggering outrage in the locality. According to reports, the child had been playing outside her home when the accused allegedly lured her away. He is accused of raping her in the field before strangling her with a piece of her own clothing.
In a disturbing development, the accused reportedly joined the search party alongside the victim's parents and allegedly attempted to mislead them. His suspicious behaviour prompted the girl's father to approach the police, leading to the registration of a case against Hiralal under relevant provisions of law.
Police Response and Arrest
Superintendent of Police formed three specialised teams to investigate the case given its gravity, and the teams subsequently apprehended Hiralal. During questioning, the accused allegedly disclosed details of the crime before being escorted to the site for evidence recovery — where the encounter occurred.
Additional Superintendent of Police Arvind Kumar confirmed the sequence of events. Three police teams were formed to solve the case. The team arrested the named accused, Hiralal. After questioning, when the accused was taken to the crime scene to collect evidence, he opened fire at the police team with an illegal country-made pistol,
Kumar said.
Investigation Ongoing
The body was recovered from the Muskara police station area on 1 November, and the case was registered based on the father's complaint, Kumar confirmed. Further investigation into the matter is ongoing, police said. The incident has drawn sharp attention to child safety in rural Uttar Pradesh, coming against a backdrop of repeated demands for faster justice in crimes against minors.
Point of View
Actively misdirecting them, points to a calculated perpetrator — but it also underscores systemic gaps in how missing-child cases are initially handled. The focus now must be on ensuring the judicial process proceeds rigorously, not just that the accused is incapacitated.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hiralal and what is he accused of?
Hiralal is a man from Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh, accused of raping and murdering a three-year-old girl. According to police, he allegedly lured the child from outside her home, assaulted her in an agricultural field, and strangled her with a piece of her own clothing.
What happened during the police encounter in Hamirpur?
When police took Hiralal to the crime scene on 2 November to collect evidence, he allegedly opened fire at the accompanying officers using an illegal country-made pistol. Police retaliated, injuring him in both legs. He was subsequently taken for medical treatment.
When and where was the victim's body found?
The three-year-old girl's body was recovered on 1 November from an agricultural field within the limits of the Muskara police station in Hamirpur district, Uttar Pradesh. Her father filed a complaint with police after the accused's suspicious behaviour raised alarm.
How was the accused identified and arrested?
The accused reportedly joined the victim's family during the search for the missing child and allegedly tried to mislead them. His suspicious behaviour prompted the girl's father to alert police, who registered a case and formed three specialised teams that subsequently arrested Hiralal.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Additional Superintendent of Police Arvind Kumar confirmed the arrest and the encounter, stating that further investigation is ongoing. Hiralal is currently under medical care at the district hospital following the encounter injuries.
