A 12-year-old girl has been allegedly raped and murdered in India-administered Kashmir, sparking widespread outrage and demands for swift justice. The minor went missing on Saturday evening after failing to return home from a religious school in Galwanpora village, Budgam district. Her body was discovered the following morning approximately 200 metres from her home.
Police have registered a case of rape and murder. Senior Superintendent of Police for Budgam, Hariprasad K K, stated at a press conference: 'Prima facie it appears to be a case of rape and murder. We'll try to crack the case and the culprits will be arrested soon.' The investigation is in its early stages, with multiple teams gathering evidence, deploying tracker dogs, and examining CCTV footage from nearby areas.
The incident, occurring about 10km from Srinagar, triggered street protests led by women and children demanding improved safety and justice. Political leaders and civil society groups have called for the swift arrest of those responsible. Police have appealed to the public and media not to disclose the victim's identity or share unverified details on social media, in line with Indian law prohibiting identification of sexual crime victims.
Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, described the murder as 'deeply distressing' and pledged government support for law enforcement to ensure punishment for the guilty. In a post on X, he said: 'The tragic murder of a young preteen girl... is both shocking and deeply distressing... I condemn this brutal attack without reservation or condition and send my sympathies to her family.'
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a prominent cleric and separatist figure, expressed profound sorrow, stating: 'What are we becoming as a society if our children cannot even feel safe on their way to seek education and guidance?' He called for serious introspection at all levels.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir reported 887 cases of crimes against children in 2024, including 308 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and 3,366 cases of crimes against women. The territory's crime rate remains below the national average.
