Riyaz, accused of killing a Telangana police constable, was shot dead while trying to escape from a Nizamabad hospital. Police say he attempted to snatch a weapon before being neutralized.

Nizamabad, Telangana: In a dramatic turn of events, rowdy sheeter Riyaz was shot dead on Monday, October 20, after reportedly trying to escape from police custody at a government hospital in Nizamabad.

Telangana Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy confirmed the incident through a post on X (formerly Twitter). According to his statement, the accused attempted to snatch a firearm from the police escort and fired at officers before being gunned down. “Despite repeated warnings, Riyaz tried to open fire, forcing the police to retaliate. He succumbed to injuries during the incident,” the DGP’s post read.

Just a day earlier, the 24-year-old had been captured following a massive state-wide manhunt. Riyaz was wanted for allegedly stabbing to death police constable E. Pramod, 48, in Nizamabad. The officer was escorting him to the Central Crime Station (CCS) in connection with a bike theft case when the attack occurred.

Riyaz, who reportedly had over 30 criminal cases against him in multiple districts, had evaded arrest by hiding in a lorry cabin near Sarampur village. The police, acting on intelligence inputs, deployed nine special teams and cordoned off a 25-kilometer stretch to track him down. His capture and subsequent escape attempt brought the tense manhunt to a deadly conclusion.

Analysis: The incident has reignited debates around the safety of police personnel during prisoner transfers and the need for tighter security protocols. For Nizamabad residents, it’s a reminder of how swiftly violence can erupt, even inside a hospital. Legal experts note that while encounters in self-defense are lawful, they must always be subjected to scrutiny to ensure transparency and public trust.