The incident has sent shockwaves across Kashmir, where political and religious leaders expressed pain and shock.The body of a 12-year-old girl, who went missing on Saturday, was found close to her home in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Sunday, in what the police suspect is a case of rape and murder.The incident has sent shockwaves across Kashmir, where political and religious leaders expressed pain and shock.According to officials, the girl had left home on Saturday evening but did not return. The family lodged a missing persons report with the police late on Saturday night, and the body was found early on Sunday morning, just around 200 metres from her house.“At around 7.15 in the morning, the body was recovered from a plot some 200 metres from the girl’s home,” Budgam SSP Hariprasad K K said. “We have completed the medical formalities. Prima facie, it seems a case of rape and murder,” he added.The SSP further said that the police had registered a case of kidnapping on Saturday night and added further charges in the FIR after the discovery of the body the next morning.The police have started their investigation into the case, and initial searches are being conducted in a one-km radius of the area where the body was found, the officer said, adding, “We have employed tracer dogs also, and are in the process of seizing (footage from) all CCTV cameras in the area.”Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called the incident deeply distressing, saying his government would support the agencies to the fullest extent possible to ensure exemplary punishment is given to those found guilty.Story continues below this ad“The tragic murder of a young preteen girl in Budgam district of central Kashmir is both shocking and deeply distressing. While the appropriate agencies inquire 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,” the Chief Minister said in a post on X.“I condemn this brutal attack without reservation or condition and send my sympathies to her family,” he said.Former chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti termed the incident disconcerting and unsettling. “Devastated to hear about the cold-blooded murder of a 12-year-old girl in Budgam. The allegations of rape just make it all the more shocking, disconcerting and unsettling. One shudders at the thought of whether our children are really safe,” she said.The Valley’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said the incident has shaken the conscience of every human being.Story continues below this ad“Heartbroken and deeply disturbed by the tragic death of a 12-year-old girl in Budgam, who went missing while on her way to the Darsgah. The circumstances surrounding this incident are extremely painful and have shaken the conscience of every human being,” he said, adding, “What are we becoming as a society if our children cannot even feel safe on their way to seek education and guidance? Such incidents spread fear, grief and deep anxiety among people and demand serious introspection at every level.”Mirwaiz called for a “thorough, transparent and time-bound” investigation into the suspected rape and murder, and sought strict punishment for those responsible.Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Kashmir