Kashmir

SRINAGAR — The alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in the Galwanpora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district has triggered widespread outrage and intense public shock across the Kashmir Valley. Following an intensive 36-hour multi-agency investigation, the Jammu and Kashmir Police announced they have apprehended a local youth, identified as a neighbor of the victim, who has reportedly confessed to the crime. The Disappearance and Discovery According to official sources, the minor went missing on Saturday evening after leaving her home around 4:00 PM to attend a local Darsgah (religious class). Family members and neighbors grew anxious when she failed to return despite the densely populated nature of the residential area. An elderly resident expressed the community's profound confusion, stating: "She left home around 4 PM for her religious class. We fail to understand how she went missing despite so many houses in the surrounding area. The killer should be caught immediately. We just want justice for the girl." The resident added that the child was carrying a Quran with her, which was subsequently recovered near the crime scene along with her footwear. Following a missing person report filed at approximately 10:00 PM on Saturday, the J&K Police registered a case under kidnapping charges and initiated an overnight search operation. At approximately 7:15 AM on Sunday, the girl's body was discovered in a nearby field, just 200 meters from her residence. Official Police Investigation The Budgam Police Station upgraded the initial case to FIR number 139/2026 under Sections 137(1) (kidnapping) and 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), incorporating stringent clauses pertaining to sexual assault. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), supervised by Sajad Ahmad, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Headquarters, Budgam, was immediately formed to fast-track the case. Confirming the recovery, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Budgam, Hariprasad K.K., stated: "At around 7:15 am 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." Following a continuous evaluation of forensic evidence, local CCTV feeds, and the questioning of multiple individuals, the police zeroed in on a local resident. "Over the last 36 hours, we questioned multiple suspects, and it emerged that a local was most likely responsible. After a while, one of the suspects finally admitted his involvement in the crime," SSP Hariprasad K.K. confirmed on Monday evening, adding that the specific motive behind the crime remains under active investigation. "We have registered a case under relevant sections of the law, and the public is requested not to spread misinformation or circulate unverified content," the SSP urged, noting that unverified rumors cause unnecessary distress to the family and could hamper formal legal proceedings. Political Condemnation and Civil Outrage The brutal crime has drawn severe condemnation from across the political spectrum, with top leaders calling for exemplary punishment. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his deep sorrow over the loss and visited the grieving family in Budgam on Tuesday to offer personal condolences. In an official public reaction, Chief Minister Abdullah described the incident as "shocking and deeply distressing." He remarked: "While the appropriate agencies enquire into the circumstances of her murder, it's also fitting that we reflect on where we as a society are headed when our young children are not safe. I condemn this brutal attack without reservation or condition and send my sympathies to her family. May she find place in Jannat." The Chief Minister added that the tragedy must serve as a moment of "serious introspection for society at large" and reaffirmed his administration's pledge to provide all necessary support to investigating agencies to ensure justice is delivered transparently. Concurrently, regional leaders, including Social Welfare and Education Minister Sakeena Yatoo, visited the family to extend government solidarity. Senior political figures across parties have united in demanding a time-bound trial to ensure the perpetrator faces the maximum penalties prescribed under law.