A 12-year-old girl was found raped and murdered in the Galwanpora area of Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Sunday, 25 May 2025, police confirmed. The child had gone missing the previous evening, and her body was recovered barely 200 metres from her home.

How the body was found

The girl was reported missing on Saturday evening, prompting police to register a kidnapping case and launch search operations overnight. By Sunday morning, her body was discovered a short distance from her residence in Galwanpora, Budgam.

Budgam Senior Superintendent of Police Hariprasad K.K. told reporters: 'A case of kidnapping a minor child was registered, and searches were carried out. Unfortunately, the body of the child was found this morning. The body was sent for post-mortem examination. Prima facie, it seems to be a case of rape and murder. We have added the relevant sections of the law to the FIR.'

Investigation under way

Police have invoked relevant sections of law in the First Information Report (FIR), and the body has been sent for post-mortem examination. Investigators have not yet named any suspect. The post-mortem findings are expected to formally confirm the cause of death and the nature of the assault.

Outrage across the Valley

The incident has sent shockwaves across the Kashmir Valley, coming at a time when residents were preparing to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha (Bakr Eid), marking the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage — one of the holiest occasions in the Islamic calendar.

Senior religious leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed grief in a post on X, writing: '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.' He called the circumstances 'extremely painful' and said the incident had 'shaken the conscience of every human being.'

The Mirwaiz demanded 'a thorough, transparent and time-bound investigation' and called for the strictest punishment under law for those responsible. He also offered condolences to the bereaved family.

Wider context

Child safety and crimes against minors have remained a persistent concern across India, with civil society groups repeatedly calling for faster trials and stronger enforcement of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. This incident is likely to renew demands for accountability from both law enforcement and community leaders in the Valley.

Authorities have not yet indicated a timeline for arrests. The case is being monitored at the district police level, and further developments are expected as the post-mortem report is released.