Outrage in Kashmir After Suspected Rape and Murder of 12-Year-Old Girl
According to police, the minor girl was reported missing at around 10 pm on May 23, after she failed to return home from a local Darsgah (Qur’an teaching centre). Her family had raised an alarm when she did not come back at the usual time
SRINAGAR: Widespread anger and grief have engulfed the Kashmir following the suspected rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl from Galwanpora in the Valley’s central Budgam district. The incident has triggered continuous street protests, emotional scenes, and demands for swift and exemplary punishment for the perpetrator. The police are reported to have detained a neighbour of the victim on the suspicion of being involved in the crime.
According to police, the minor girl was reported missing at around 10 pm on May 23, after she failed to return home from a local Darsgah (Qur’an teaching centre). Her family had raised an alarm when she did not come back at the usual time.
SSP Budgam Hariprasad K K stated that an FIR was immediately registered under sections related to kidnapping of a minor, and extensive night-long searches were launched.
At approximately 7.15 am the next morning, the girl’s body was discovered just 200 metres from her home. Police completed all medico-legal formalities and, based on preliminary findings, stated that the case appears to involve rape and murder.
The SSP confirmed that the investigation is in its early stages. Police have deployed tracker dogs within a one-kilometre radius of the recovery site, are examining CCTV footage from nearby areas, and are questioning local suspects. Evidence collection and verification are ongoing, a police spokesperson said.
The SSP urged the public not to circulate unverified information and appealed to media organisations to refrain from sharing the identity or photographs of the minor victim. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the case.
The incident has sparked intense outrage across Budgam and neighbouring areas. Women, youth, and local residents have taken to the streets, demanding immediate arrest of the culprit and stringent punishment. Many expressed fear and anguish over the safety of children, especially girls, in the region.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the murder as “shocking and deeply distressing”, calling for societal introspection. He assured full government support to investigative agencies and demanded exemplary punishment for the guilty.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the killing as “heinous” and directed police to ensure a thorough, time-bound investigation. He spoke with senior police officials and assured that the perpetrator will not escape justice. He also expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family.
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said she was “devastated” by the cold-blooded murder and the allegations of rape, calling the incident deeply unsettling. She questioned whether children in Kashmir are truly safe.
Ruling National Conference (NC) MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi visited the victim’s family and expressed concern over what he termed a decline in moral values and institutional failure. He criticised the perceived lack of urgency in crimes involving vulnerable victims, contrasting it with the swift action often taken in cases of dissent.
He urged fast-track investigation and called for societal introspection, warning that materialism and weakening moral responsibility were contributing to social decay.
Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq expressed heartbreak and said the incident had “shaken the conscience of every human being.” He stressed the need for a transparent, time-bound investigation and questioned how children could feel safe if they were not protected even on their way to religious education.
PDP leader Iltija Mufti also visited the family and joined protesters demanding justice. She described the incident as “spine chilling” and urged police to intensify efforts, including scrutiny of CCTV footage, to identify and arrest the perpetrator.
The killing has left the entire Kashmir in shock, with many residents expressing fear for their children’s safety. The victim’s routine—attending a Qur’an class in her neighbourhood—has intensified public anxiety, as parents question how such a crime could occur so close to home.
