Police in Jammu and Kashmir have launched an investigation into the suspected rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl whose body was found near her home in Budgam district on Sunday, triggering protests and demands for swift action against those responsible.
The girl, a resident of Galwanpora village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, had gone missing on Saturday evening after leaving home for a religious class, according to local residents.
Her body was recovered from nearby fields on Sunday morning, around 200 metres from her home, police said.
“At around 7:15 a.m. today, the body was recovered from a spot nearly 200 metres from her home. All medico-legal formalities were subsequently completed and prima facie, it appears to be a case of rape and murder,” Budgam Senior Superintendent of Police Hariprasad KK said in a statement.
Police said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to investigate the case and examine all possible angles. Authorities said the probe would be conducted in a “fair, transparent and professional manner”.
The incident sparked outrage in the area, with residents staging protests and demanding immediate arrests.
Local residents described the killing as horrific and said the girl’s disappearance had shocked the village. Some residents said a copy of the Quran the child had been carrying was later found near the scene.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the incident, calling it “shocking and deeply distressing”.
In a statement, Abdullah said the case should prompt wider reflection on public safety and the security of children.
“I condemn this brutal attack without reservation or condition and send my sympathies to her family,” he said, adding that the government would extend all support to investigating agencies to ensure those responsible were punished under the law.
Leaders of the ruling Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, including Education Minister Sakeena Yatoo, visited the bereaved family and assured them of justice.
Police urged the public not to circulate unverified information or speculation related to the case, warning that it could hamper the investigation.
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