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A 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered in India-administered Kashmir, triggering outrage across the Himalayan region and sparking calls for swift action.

The minor was reported missing on Saturday evening after she failed to return home from a religious school in the village of Galwanpora in Budgam district.

Her body was found the next morning, about 200 metres from her home. Police then registered a case of rape and murder.

“At around 7.15am, the body of the victim was recovered. The medico-legal formalities have been finalised. Prima facie it appears to be a case of rape and murder. We’ll try to crack the case and the culprits will be arrested soon,” the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) for Budgam, Hariprasad K K, said at a press conference.

The investigation was still in its early stages, with several teams working to gather evidence and pursue leads, the officer said. Tracker dogs had been deployed around the site while CCTV footage from nearby areas was being examined.

The incident, which took place about 10km from the regional capital Srinagar, triggered street protests in the area, with women and children in particular coming out in large numbers to demand swift justice and improved safety.

Political leaders and civil society groups also called for the swift arrest of those responsible.

Police appealed to the public and the media not to disclose the identity of the victim or show her pictures. Indian law prohibits the identification of victims of sexual crimes, including after they have died. Police also warned against spreading rumours or unverified details on social media.

Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, calling the incident “deeply distressing”. He said his government would support law enforcement agencies to ensure punishment was given to those found guilty.

“The tragic murder of a young preteen girl in Budgam district of central Kashmir is both shocking and deeply distressing,” he said on X. “While the appropriate agencies inquire into the circumstances of her murder, it is 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.”

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a prominent cleric and senior figure within the separatist movement in Kashmir, said that the “circumstances surrounding this incident are extremely painful and have shaken the conscience of every human being”.

“What are we becoming as a society if our children cannot even feel safe on their way to seek education and guidance?” he said. “Such incidents spread fear, grief and deep anxiety among people and demand serious introspection at every level.”

According to the latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir reported 887 cases of crimes against children in 2024, including 308 registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

It also recorded 3,366 cases of crimes against women in the same period. The federally-administered territory’s crime rate remains below the national average.