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12-year-old girl found dead in Budgam; rape-murder suspected
25 May 2026

A 12-year-old girl was found dead in the Budgam district of central Kashmir on Sunday.

The body was recovered from a plot about 200 meters from her home.

The girl had left her house on Saturday evening and went missing, prompting her family to file a missing persons report late that night.

Prima facie, it seems a case of rape, murder: Police
Investigation progress

Budgam Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hariprasad KK confirmed that the body was found around 7:15am on Sunday.

"We have completed the medical formalities. Prima facie, it seems a case of rape and murder," he added.

The police had initially registered a kidnapping case on Saturday night, but added further charges after discovering the body.

Police launch investigation, conduct searches
Search efforts

The police have launched an investigation and are conducting searches within a one-kilometer radius of where the body was found.

According to The Indian Express, SSP Hariprasad said they are using tracer dogs and are in the process of seizing CCTV footage from nearby cameras.

The incident has sent shockwaves across Kashmir with political and religious leaders expressing their shock.

Political leaders react to shocking incident
Public outcry

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called it "deeply distressing" and promised full support to agencies in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the incident as shocking and unsettling.

Valley's chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, called for a thorough investigation into this suspected rape and murder case.