Missing 12-year-old 'raped, murdered' in Kashmir; body found 200 metres from home

SRINAGAR: Police suspect rape and murder in the death of a 12-year-old girl whose body was found Sunday morning near her home in Galwanpora village of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, hours after she went missing, officials said.

“Legal and medical formalities have been completed. Prima facie, it seems a case of rape and murder and all relevant sections of law have been added to FIR,” Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Hariprasad KK said. “We will use all available resources to crack the case.” Police did not disclose further details about circumstances surrounding the death. No arrests had been made as of Sunday evening.

The crime triggered outrage and grief across Kashmir. J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah said his government will fully support agencies to “ensure exemplary punishment” for the guilty. Health minister Sakina Itoo visited the family and assured them of “all possible support and justice”.

Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti called the killing a grim reminder of growing vulnerability of women and children. Peoples Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone said he was deeply shaken. “Allegations surrounding this crime make it even more painful and disturbing,” he said.

SSP Hariprasad said police received information around 10pm Saturday that the girl had disappeared from the village, located about a 10-minute drive from Srinagar airport. Search teams combed the area through the night before her body was found about 200m from her house early Sunday.

(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault.)