12-year-old girl 'raped, murdered,' body found 200 metres from home in Kashmir's Budgam

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,” 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 CM Omar Abdullah said his govt 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 CM and 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.